It’s good to see a local music scene that has the ability to create an album like “Beautiful Locals.” The album is the brainchild of Mark Curdo, a local music aficionado who had the genius idea of having Portland musicians cover (now bear with me on this part) other Portland musicians. That’s it. Sounds pretty simple, yes? Well, the result is a compilation so good that it has the chance to rival the popular “Greetings from Area Code 207” albums. Anyone who has at least an average awareness of local music, or has listened to WCYY in at least the last five years, will appreciate this album.
The disc features well known artists from Portland covering other Portland artists who may or may not still be producing music. One of the better songs on the album is the opening track featuring Paranoid Social Club ripping up now-defunct 6gig’s nationwide single “Hit the Ground,” with PSC frontman Dave Gutter wailing Walt Craven’s vocals religiously.
The title track of the album comes from Even All Out, also no longer together, paying homage to Goud’s Thumb. It features Billy Libby in all his glory, belting out a song by a band that hit its peak when Libby was still in grade school.
More recent covers on the album include The Press’ take on Paranoid Social Club’s sample-friendly opening track of Axis II, “Bully,” with hip-hop femme fatale Sontiago replacing Poverty’s rap interlude with some rhymes of her own.
Some of the more laid back cuts are The Troubles’ “Heart Full of Heartache” played here by Tony McNaboe, with former Rustic Overtones’ buddy Ryan Zoidis laying down some tasty saxophone licks, while the Pete Kilpatrick Supergroup chimes in with one of McNaboe’s own, “Destination.” Also, As Fast As does justice to The Hollywood Squares’ “A is Wasted,” providing probably one of the tightest songs on the album.
Speaking of the Rustic Overtones, one of the most unfortunate cuts off the album is Thrust 13’s cover of Rustic’s “Combustible.” It is an interesting take, but it doesn’t do the legendary band justice. But, then again, the album is all about different interpretations. At least Thrust 13 picked the right song to cover, replacing Rustic’s snarling vocals and explosive horn lines with a fitting hardcore guttural wail and distorted guitar.
The most amusing track on the album comes from resident rockabillies King Memphis doing the bluegrass thing on hardcore rock band Eldemur Krimm’s “Chopper.” The band speeds up and slows down, singing the hardcore metal lyrics with some tongue in cheek humor, not to mention the King Memphis brand of guitar picking and bluesy riffs. This is probably the most creative part of the disc, as the band transcends genres to provide one of the best cuts off the album.
All in all, “Beautiful Locals” is a diverse mix of some of the best Portland bands of the past and present. The dedication to the local scene is evident in every song on the album. Anyone with even a passing interest in local music would enjoy this interesting compilation, because a local music scene with enough unity to produce an album like this is nothing short of beautiful.