Live at KEXP Volume Three

Rob Gordon once said, "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules."

Thanks Rob. Well said.

If Rob's take on how to make a great compilation is the true measure, then Live at KEXP Volume Three is the station's best effort to date. The lazy strum of a guitar is the first thing we hear on Volume Three. Then John Roderick rings in the opening lines to The Long Winters' poppy indie rock anthem, "Pushover" -- and we're off on the right foot.

The compilation climbs, gradually at first, with the rousing "Australia" by The Shins, followed by Frank Black's insanely cool "(Do What You Want) Gyaneshwar" -- and then, hang on to your butts. Volume Three takes off like a rocket with Ghostland Observatory's window-rattling "Move with Your Lover" and Lady Sovereign's "Public Warning". Little public warning of our own: Miss Sovereign's track will, we repeat, will make your ass shake until it falls right off. Seriously, your ass will be lying on the floor and you'll be standing there, ass-less, looking quite the fool.

Pre-wad-blowing, Volume Three cools off a bit with phenomenal songs by Grizzly Bear, Cloud Cult, Beirut, Under Byen -- then an upswing with songs by The Black Angels and The Gossip (among others).

This unbelievably good volume of live music closes with a final exhale, or more like a breathy laugh, as Billy Bragg waxes poetic on the state of things with "Waiting for the Great Leap Forward", a song that pokes a little fun at the apes running our government.

Now for the good stuff. Seattlest has two copies to give away. Just fill in your name and address (your info's safe with us) and we'll draw the winners Wednesday at noon.