ND

NOVEMBER '07

Harder Beat Magazine Online

By Shane Epting

This 42-track compilation, piled with more rock than you can shake a bloody baseball bat at, is as diverse as Denton itself. Collectively, it has more variety than the choices of toppings at J & J’s pizza on the town square. From traditional gangster rap to alternative country-funk, Denton Deluxe displays the different musical styles that are deeply rooted in this community.

Strawberry Fields, an independent music and movie shop, put this collection out to highlight the tower of talent within The Independent Music Capital of Texas. It features a plethora of well-polished local performers, who can rock your socks off while still wearing shoes. Many of the artists are in genres that you didn’t even know existed. Yet it has many that are familiar.

Local Latina super-heroine Chica Y Los Gatos

For instance, alt-indie-rock ass kickers, The Demigs are present. Christian! Teenage Runaways come correctly with their brand of off-the-cuff punk. Forward-thinking extremists, Undoing Of David Wright, display their wicked ways. And of course, there’s the fantastic and furious folk-rock, freak-show known as New Science Projects strum out some pseudo-political madness. Local Latina super-heroine, Chica y Los Gatos, plays her critically acclaimed sensation “Baby, I’m Not Blind.”

On an interesting flip of the coin, DD is a great opportunity to check out some of Big Denton’s lesser known, but deservingly incredible, acts. For instance, great bands such as Harry Has A Head Like A Ping Pong Ball, Erick Keyes and Delhi are well worth checking out. With so many great artists, it’s impossible to list them all. If you prefer your rock “inside the box,” or if you purchase music at Big Box Mart, you should avoid this compilation at all costs. It will not mesh well your shitty collection of “artists” such as Hanson and The Cheetah Girls.

Beginning October 31, Strawberry Fields will start accepting submissions for Denton Deluxe Volumes III and IV. Bands may drop off their music at the store until November 24. You can expect the new editions to be available around Christmas/ Hanukkah /Kwanza/Winter Solstice/Festus. Check out Strawberry Fields on MySpace for more information. Rock indeed.