Strum & thrum : the American jangle underground 1983-1987

"In the years following the 1981 arrival of R.E.M.'s "Radio Free Europe" single, a healthy American scene bubbled under the surface invisible to all but the most dedicated trawlers of record shops and the pages of magazines like the BOB. Less psychedelic than the Paisley Underground, more melodic than the punk groups crawling away from hardcore, and also heavily influenced by the twitchy, Beatles-y approach of the dB's, the bands were typified by a love of jangling guitars, rich vocal harmonies, and the Byrds. The Captured Tracks label does an impressive job of gathering up the best and brightest of the scene".

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"The inaugural release in a new Captured Tracks compilation series surveys a generation of college-rock bands that drew sustenance from the chiming guitars of R.E.M. and the Byrds".

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"The 80s US alternative scene wasn't all muscled-up Black Flag wannabes and frowning post-punk heroes paving the way for grunge. 'Strum And Thrum' showcases 14 bands from that era who operated in a gentler vein and have, until now, been huddled under the radar. Even experts in The Paisley Underground might not have heard of this lot. There's a late Hüsker Düand early REM quality to much of the material. A lot of it is yearning and fragile. Lyrics full of heartbreak and youthful regret are wrapped up in gorgeous melodies ... These musicians must have been sensitive souls who were galvanised by punk but were never going to give up their Byrds collection ... There's not a dud tune in the whole jingly jangly bunch".