Consumer Guide Album

Declaration of Independents [Stiff, 1980]
Released domestically in 1980 on Ambition, this vaguely heartening survey gathers 13 generally well-regarded indie singles, many of which I basically dismissed, into one comparatively listenable album. The mood is revivalist, rockabilly to pop-rock to soul-r&b, and four cuts are specific as hell: Pylon's classically futuristic "Cool," Keven Dunn's futuristically classic "Nadine," Luxury's instant memorabilia "Green Hearts," and Root Boy Slim's "The Meltdown," a dance craze to rival Dr. Hook's "Levitate." B+