There have been few if any benefits for New Orleans underground bands since Katrina, and there hasn’t been any outcry, “Don’t let our underground rock die.” That’s to some extent the nature of underground rock—it exists off the radar, and it frequently presents personal visions, regardless of their commercial potential. Songs from the Basement, Vol. 5 is the fifth WTUL compilation, and it’s a reminder that this remains a vibrant community, even if it is in flux.

 

It presents a picture of a scene in transition, with an excellent German-influenced electronic tune by Electrical Spectacle (who I don’t think are still together) and two songs by King Louie, one with the Loose Diamonds and one as the Black Rose Band. The latter, “Say Goodbye (We Really Did Try),” is raw with good pop sense, but it lacks the two-guitar classic rock interplay that is the hallmark of the band’s best material. “Rat” by the Gubernatorial Candidates makes me want to hear more by the band, while “I’ve Got Mine” by Baton Rouge’s the Genghis Khanmen makes me want to hear less. D. Lefty Parker’s “Money (FEMA) Remix” features MC Trachiotomy, Zodiac Deuteronomy and Quintron, and its deconstruction of hip-hop conventions is intriguing, though it was probably more fun to make than it is to listen to.

 

The album also includes two live-in-the-studio tracks, one by Loyola grad AM, who played Voodoo last year, and one by Soul Asylum. Neither take is special, but it’s nice to see people who emerged from the underground lending support. Ultimately, the CD is a document of a scene, but it’s also a reminder of how vibrant a scene it can be.