Pitchfork

Calvin Johnson? Fuck yeah, Calvin Johnson! The man behind Beat Happening and Dub Narcotic Sound System has a brand new bag of goodies: a 23- track compilation that could have been labeled as Dub Narcotic Sound System and Friends. Some of these bands (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Beck) are familiar. Most will only be known by a few die hard indie kids who live and die by the 'zines. All who purchase shall be set free into Calvin's world.

K Records has put out fantabulous compilations in the past, including the way more awesome than you'll ever be International Hip Swing. But Selector Dub Narcotic is all that and more. Calvin gets hip to rap and funk, not just with the Dub Narcotic tracks, but with hardcore hip- hop groups like Black Anger Movement and No. 1.

Yes, all your favorite indie kids are here, too. Versus turns in a swell slice of dream pop called "Sunlight Flier." Jon Spencer leads a funky charge on "Blues Explosion Attack," a strange run through all six of his lyrics ("Blues Explosion! Russell Simmins! Judah Bauer! Come on! I need help! Hoo-uh!"), some weird rants about being under attack, and unless he's just a freak, I think he even misquotes Dr. Octagon. ("There's a horse in the hospital!")

Beck's track, "Close to God," sounds like an outtake from Mellow Gold. But weirdest of all is "Go Sonics" by Tommy; not only are neither of these girls named Tommy (one is Lois Maffeo, the other is Carrie Brownstein), the song doesn't have a goddamned thing to do with my favorite b-ball team. How's that for false advertising? Others turning in stellar performances are Calvin and some indie pals, K.G., Jason Traeger, ICU, Jen Smith, and Miranda July.

In all, this disc contains a very minimal amount of filler, leaving consumers with whole lot of love, straight outta Olympia to music fans from Puyallup to Persia.