Moody High

Not being content to merely dig up and release all kinds of forgotten musical gems that range from lo-fi soul to raging post-hardcore, the crew at Numero decided to start whipping up a set of artifacts, too. With the Cabinet of Curiosities series, theyve started packaging their reissues in elaborate ways that make them conversation pieces as well as musical discoveries. They paired a set of rare synth pieces from the 80s with an online game, released a set of sci-fi-inspired soul music in a gold jacket that folded into a pyramid, and on Louis Wayne Moody High, they wrap a collection of garage rock in a replica yearbook from 1967. The care that the label puts into the presentation of these collections is undeniable, and thanks to the always stringent standards of the compilers, the music is just as good. Unlike many compilations of teenage garage kicks, they werent looking for the bands voted class clown or most likely to wear a lampshade at a party. Instead, the 14 tracks sound like they were recorded by the kids voted the saddest kid in class at a school where they replaced the water in the drinking fountains with teardrops. These young men and women are true to the name of their school and are moody. Not to mention heartbroken, gloomy, and forlorn. The songs are minor-key ballads with a folk-rock influence, played on softly jangling guitars and sung through sobs. Even the track that comes closest to rocking, the Weejuns Ready Cmon Now, sounds like they are playing a cover of Hang On Sloopy in the pouring rain outside the window of their ex-girlfriend. Other sad and lonely fellas are the Werps, whose Voodoo Doll is a weird little song that sounds like Arthur Lee wrote it in the throes of a cough syrup binge; the Islanders, who manage to wring salty tears out of surf music on the oddly affecting King of the Surf; and the Shy Guys, whose absolutely devastating Goodbye to You should be a garage rock comp staple and is just one of the many tracks here that demands further investigation. Unlike on a great many garage rock sets, the women get their say here as well. The $1,000,000 War Babies harmonize and chime through the yearning lament Hey, Little Boy, Female Species Tale of a Lost Love sounds like an unlikely mix of the Thirteenth Floor Elevators and the Shangri-Las (if they wore paisley instead of leather), and the Shades Tell Me Not to Hurt is a fantastic folk-rock tune with some happily wonky guitar playing and a heartbroken lead vocal. Louis Wayne Moody High must have been a tough place to attend, and judging from the tracks here youd need quite a budget for tissue and mascara, but the school dances must have been amazing. Especially the slow songs. Extra credit to Numero for managing to turn in a collection of garage rock that sounds fresh and new even at this late date. ~ Tim Sendra