When Sounds Are Active released the film 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES! in 2006, artists like Abe Vigoda, Gowns, HEALTH, Naomi, Anavan, No Age (performing as Wives) and yes, even, I Heart Lung were not yet being covered by much of the independent press. Fast forward a few years and many of these groups have already achieved both critical and artistic success. 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES! stands as the definitive document of the Los Angeles underground in the mid 2000’s.

With 20 Bands/74.4 Minutes! we lovingly repeat the process with the Denton, Texas musical underground. Assembled by Michael and Jennifer of Shiny Around The Edges, 20 Bands/74.4 Minutes! showcases a staggering amount of diversity in the long-simmering scene. As the liner notes accurately summerize: “Much like the fabled Smell in L.A., Denton is not just a physical place but a mental space where creativity is fostered and all are welcome.”

Track Listing

01. Shiny Around the Edges “Come Closer” [mp3]
Written by Jennifer Seman © 2009 Shiny Music (ASCAP)

02. Fight Bite “Spring Rain” [mp3]
Written by Fight Bite © 2008 Fight Bite

03. Tre Orsi “The Visible Hand” [mp3]
Written by Tre Orsi © 2009 Tre Orsi

04. Mom “Josh Likes Me” [mp3]
Written by Mom © 2007 tiny taun publishing (ASCAP)

05. Record Hop “Rocket Séance” [mp3]
Written by Record Hop © 2008 Record Hop

06. Dust Congress “Sow a $58 Seed” [mp3]
Written by Nick Foreman © 2009 a vampire in my bathtub music (ASCAP)

07. The Make Believers “Anytime is a Good Time” [mp3]
Written by William Kapinos © 2009 William Kapinos

08. Heartstring Stranglers “Jennie” [mp3]
Written by Frederick Schulze © 2008 The Heartstring Stranglers

09. Darktown Strutters “Quakertown” [mp3]
Written by Kara Howell © 2007 Darktown Strutters

10. Zanzibar Snails “The Pendulum, The Dirigible” [mp3]
Written by Forbes/Hill/Chamy © 2006 Zanzibar Snails

11. Paul Slavens “Piece for Piano and Wind Trio: I Allegro” [mp3]
Recorded live with the following musicians: Paul Slavens, piano;
Gabe Lit, clarinet; Domenica Fossati, flute; Laura Romberg, oboe
Written by Paul Slavens © 2008 Paul Slavens

12. Kaboom “Helen Keller” [mp3]
Written by Brad Santulli, Chris Cowdrey, Garrick Campsey, and Ethan Hahn
© 2008 Kaboom

13. History at Our Disposal “Bed of Leaves” [mp3]
Written by Jason Reimer © 2006 handsfortoes

14. Daniel Folmer “Skin and Bones” [mp3]
Written by Daniel Folmer © 2008 Ganglo Music (ASCAP)

15. Delmore Pilcrow “The Most Popular Mister” [mp3]
Written by Chris Garver © 2008 Chris Garver

16. Florene “Street Caring” [mp3]
Written by Aaron Mollet © 2008 Florene

17. Sean Kirkpatrick “The Paper” [mp3]
Written by Sean Kirkpatrick © 2007 (BMI)

18. Handbrake “Brillo’s Aftermath” [mp3]
Written by Handbrake © 2008 Handbrake

19. Glen Farris “When the Dawn Finds You” [mp3]
Written by Glen Farris © 2008 Glen Farris

20. Notes from Underground “No. 3, July 2006” [mp3]
Written by Notes from Underground © 2008 Notes from Underground

Press
“Though 20 Bands/74.4 Minutes! isn’t 100 percent comprehensive, the compilation is pretty remarkable because, despite featuring a wide-ranging swathe of agro to mellow Denton acts, the album still manages to sustain a sense of continuity.”- Dallas Observer

THE DOCUMENT OF THE NEW L.A. MUSIC SCENE!
One night. Forty bands. Two minutes to make their mark.

In the tradition of underground rock movies like THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION and URGH! A MUSIC WAR, comes an instant cult-classic: 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!

On one night in Hollywood, over forty of Los Angeles’ most amazing, experimental and eccentric bands join together with one daring goal: to present their uncompromising musical visions to the world in two minute blasts! Using shared equipment, each band has only one chance to get it right. No second takes allowed, everything captured live with multiple cameras and audiophile-quality sound!

These bands fuse electronic, rock, dance, metal, jazz, noise and punk within one amazing community. This is your glimpse into the future of music…

This is 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!

DVD Includes
* 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!
* 10 BANDS/20 MINUTES! (Also available for free download!)
PLUS:
* Behind-the-scenes footage
* 2 Audio Commentaries
* Photo Gallery
* Karen Centerfold Short Film
* All Region Disc Play

Press
“Get your culture fix in a New York minute”- N.Y. Times

“Nonstop, high-energy and amazingly diverse.”- The Detroit News

“I was blown away by the exhilarating collective energy the whole event projected, total diversity and whatevs styles with only a common denominator, ‘Do Your Own Thing, and Care’.”- 20 Jazz Funk Greats

“Top DVD, 2006″- Byron Coley & Thurston Moore, Bulltongue #26

“It’s good, really good, in that bang your head silly for two minutes sort of way… Prepare yourself for a strange, diverse and a nonstop jolt of energy!”- John Doran, The Missoulian

“One night of the Los Angeles underground sucked into a hand-held, moving-picture machine”- L.A. Record

“A glimpse into L.A.’s experimental underground scene”- Pitchfork

“The ultimate in short-attention-span sonic theater”- Rich Kane, IE Weekly

“Covering everything from post- hip-hop to sludge metal to sheer insanity, it’s a glimpse into the anything-goes mentality of L.A.’s experimental rock underground. Makes one wish more shows were this concise.”- XLR8R Magazine

“A high-concept ear-shredding thrill ride… Highest recommendation.”- Meanstreet Magazine

“The sheer range of talent is astonishing. From sandwich makers to noisemakers, laptops to a more traditional rock lineup, 40 Bands! gives a glimpse into a scene that will continue to explode”- CMJ

“40 Bands! is a scene report for L.A.’s current DIY underground in all its heterogeneous glory”- Pop Matters

“frenetic… the spirit of this über-independent effort can’t be denied.”- Ann Powers, L.A. Times

“Joyride of a documentary”- YAHOO! Movies

“bizarrely enjoyable”- L.A. CityBeat

“Not recommended for use with Ritalin”- Decibel Magazine

“A High Speed Rockumentary”- The Cleveland Plain Dealer