One of the better releases that Caroline Records has out is in the form of a compilation album.

“The Bridge” is an assortment of bands of the likes of Soul Asylum, Sonic Youth, and Pixies.

The catch here is that not one band does original stuff, they all do Neil Young covers!

You may say “Why did they bother to put it on vinyl”? Hey, I havn’t the faintest idea. I do know that I picked it up, not because I like Neil Young, but because I liked the assortment of bands. On this album the biggest names in underground music appear.

Sonic Youth does a fantastic version of “Computer Age”, well, just about all the artist do Neil Young justice. Some songs, I feel, are improved.

One song that has been improved, for me at least, is “Barstool Blues”, done by Soul Asylum. If you are at all familiar with them you will realize that these guys are pure barroom sleaze, this is probably why they picked this song.

Soul Asylum usually will let loose with cover songs, but they hold this one down to earth. One might say that they basically added their attitude to it.

Other artists that make their presence felt are Pixies, appearing in DeKalb on November 14, and Dinosaur, Jr., one of the newer up and coming college bands. The Pixies do a somber version of “Winterlong”. They really drone everything out. I love it.

Dinosaur,Jr. does “Lotta Love”; I could take it or leave it. Nick Cave appears doing “Helpless” and Bongwater, really cool name, does “Mr. Soul”.

If Caroline, one of the better underground labels, responsible for Naked Raygun, had put a compilation out of New Kids On the Block by these same artists I would like it.

One doesn’t neccesarily need to be a die-hard Neil Young fan to appreciate this album. What one needs to be is an avid listener of the other side of music, mainly the underground side.

So you say that you don’t like Neil Young? So what, go treat yourself to some old music made new.