“American Noise Vol. 2″ 2019. Dirtnap Records. Limited edition (500 copies). Comp soundtrack from The Smart Studios Story documentary (2016) that chronicled Butch Vig’s recording studio in Madison, WI. It still blows my mind that the punk/grunge/noise rock bands on this LP were recording basically down the street from where I lived in Madison – most of the recordings are from 1989-1992 – while at the University. These include Wisconsin bands like Die Kreuzen (“Gone Away” from Cement, Touch and Go Records, 1991) and Killdozer (“Lupus” from Twelve Point Buck, Touch and Go Records, 1989), Wisconsin-adjacent like The Cruckifucks from Michigan (“Wisconsin” from Wisconsin, Alternative Tentacles, 1987), Laughing Hyenas, also from Michigan (“Wild Heart” from Life of Crime, Touch and Go Records, 1990) and Urge Overkill from Chicago (“Faroutski” from Americruiser, Touch and Go Records, 1990). It blows my mind that TAD was in Madison recording “Jack” (from 8-Way Santa, Sub Pop Records, 1991), same with Australia’s Cosmic Psychos “Dead Roo” (from Blokes You Can Trust, Amphetamine Reptile, 1991). Those two tracks, especially Cosmic Psychos, are my favorites on the comp. Also included are old-school alt rockers Young Fresh Fellows (“Sittin’ on a Pitchfork” from Electric Bird Digest, Frontier Records, 1991) and a big-label inclusion (Columbia Records): Gumball (“Accelerator” from Super Tasty, 1992). Balancing out that is a track by The Singing Irishman (“Balloon Man”) which was self-released, not on any album with a vague 1980′s recording date and basically has no presence anywhere except for this record. It’s super-weird and you’ll have to get the album to hear it.