ATP's latest compilation, curated by The Simpsons/Futurama/Life In Hell-creator, Matt Groening. Featuring performers from the Groening-curated 2003 All Tomorrow's Parties festival, this release is a reflection of the artist's passion and dedication to music, as well as a tribute to his past history as a music critic for the L.A. Reader. This compilation features regular album tracks, as well as some rarities, including an unreleased Jackie-O Motherfucker track, and Sonic Youth's interpretation of The Simpsons theme, previously available only on the 1996 compilation "Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons". The cover art and pull-out poster should please any die-hard Groening fan and the music within provides a reassuring appraisal of a group of artists that, even after years and years of work, still remain relevant and vital.
Matt Groening has said that music is his "great solace and inspiration." Talking about the line-up he chose for the festival, Matt Groening said, "I tried to draw a through line from the Velvet Underground" since it's called All Tomorrow's Parties "to Sonic Youth, and even got Sonic Youth on the bill. They've done the best version of The Simpsons theme ever. It was fun having them on the show. That was hip? I feel sorry for music critics because of the dismal state of the current pop scene in general. I mean, this stuff [the ATP lineup] is great, but it's not being played on the radio. We're inundated with pseudo-hipness, and if I had to write about the big bands, I'd quit. But there's still great music out there, if you search for it."
This event happened in LA in 2003. If you missed it, buy this compilation, turn it up to eleven and if you shut your eyes you can pretend you were there. When Track 3 comes on imagine there is a lunar eclipse, because that is what happened when The Magic Band played. When Track 8 comes on skip it and then play it at the end, as Daniel Johnson missed his flight to the event and ended up having to play at the end of the evening.
You might ask why the compilation is coming out now (2005), and that would be an excellent question. The answer is that even though we are a little behind, we will always bring you a little something extra from our events - even if it takes a little bit longer than you expect....
This compilation is a mere sampler of what Matt Groening picked for his ATP. You shoulda been there if you weren't, but listen to this anyway...