Personnel: Scott Sutherland, Rod Ho, Rob Vasquez, Michael Anderson, Rick Kulwicki, Kim Thayil, Kurt Cobain, Mark Arm, Tad Doyle, Terry Lee Hale, Chris Eckman (vocals, guitar); Carla Torgerson (vocals, cello, keyboards); Matthew Perryman Jones, Garrett Shavlik, Mathew Jones (vocals, drums); Brendon Shriane (vocals, tambourine, percussion); Chris Cornell, John Robinson , David E. Duet, Judah, Kurt P. Kendall, Matt Bischoff, Calvin, Kim Warnick, Mark Lanegan, Calvin Johnson (vocals); Tom Ewers, Manny Eldorado, Stone, Gary Thorstensen, Gary Lee Conner, James Burdyshaw, Chris Pugh, Steve Turner , Bill Owen, Geoff Robinson, Sam Albright, James Clower, Kurt Bloch, Bill Henderson , Bootsy Collins (guitar); Michael Wells (harmonica); Dan Peters, Scott "Guitar" Schikler, Alex, Bon Henderson, Heather Lewis, Grant Eckman, Alex Laipeneiks, Steve Wied, Scott Vanderpool, A-Lex , Doug Day, Chad Channing, Mark Pickerel, Matt Cameron, Nate Johnson (drums); Steve Fisk (sampler); Jack Endino (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Jack Endino.
Recording information: Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA (1986-1988); Steve Lawson Studio, Seattle, WA (1986-1988); Steve Lawson Studios, Seattle, WA (1986-1988); Velvetone, Ellensberg, WA (1986-1988).
Illustrator: Charles Burns.
Photographer: Charles Peterson .
With the exception of the Melvins, at the point Sub Pop 200 was released the label had virtually every important Seattle band on its roster. Here 20 bands get to strut their stuff in the premainstream alternative rock world. And many of the bands that helped alternative rock reach its popularity are represented here, including Soundgarden, Nirvana, Screaming Trees, and Green River (which would mutate into Pearl Jam). Strangely enough, most of these bands do not have the standout tracks on the album. The Fastbacks try to steal the show with their charged cover of Green River's "Swallow My Pride," but the Walkabouts might have the best song here with their folk-rocker "Got No Chains." Mudhoney covers the Bette Midler torch song "The Rose," while the Chemistry Set have an impressive entry with "Underground." The Thrown Ups also show up with the best song in their catalog, "You Lost It." The album as a whole is really good; there are few standouts, but everything is solid. Many will buy the album for the Nirvana track "Spank Thru," which is decent, but hopefully those listeners will stick around for the good obscure grunge tracks included. ~ Bradley Torreano
Professional Reviews
Q (3/93, p.99) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Here, grunge was simply a post-punk restoration of the Detroit '69 formula, and groups were free to develop without A&R scouts sleeping on their doorsteps..."
