CD Review: “AthFest 2008,” Various Artists
By Sam Bishop
With AthFest 2008 just around the corner - the 12th annual music event takes place downtown June 18-22 - Ghostmeat Records has once again released the official CD accompaniment. This year’s release was produced by Ghostmeat founder Russ Hallauer and features a varied offering of 19 Athens-based acts, 12 of which have never appeared on an AthFest CD. The CD also features 15 previously unreleased tracks by bands such as Five Eight, Titans of Filth, William Tonks, Hope for Agoldensummer, Dubconscious, Dead Confederate and Russian Spy Camera, among others.
Crafted with loving care, like a well-ordered mix tape, the AthFest 2008 CD features a number of highlights. The collection kicks off auspiciously with the driving and singable “Curious Markings” by Bicycles and Gravel, followed immediately by the warm and slightly melancholy “Lit Elephants” by Madeline. Titans of Filth’s jangly stomper “Our Impending Announcement” keeps the momentum going a third of the way in, with a guitar melody pleasantly reminiscent of Love Tractor, Athens’ own patron saints of jangle-pop. The injection of bluegrass courtesy The Packway Handle Band provides a refreshing change of pace at the halfway mark with “Gets Me Every Time.” And both Dead Confederate’s dark rocker “Guns” and Russian Spy Camera’s shout-along “This Town Has Placed a Curse on Me” provide the tail end some heft, rounding out an overall strong showcasing of Athens talent.
AthFest 2008 CD is available at AthFest.com, Ghostmeat.com, select record stores, AthFest merch booths and globally via iTunes or your favorite digital music store. CD proceeds benefit AthFest, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created to educate citizens and visitors about the music and arts scene of Athens.
Listen to Dead Confederate’s “Guns”: