Run For Cover Records has helped springboard some of the most popular underground bands of this generation. From The Wonder Years, Balance & Composure, and Transit to Man Overboard, Koji, and Basement, all of these young, fresh minds showcase a talent for music that’s unique to each band. The first thing you’ll notice after one full spin of the compilation is that no track is the same. The Mixed Signals compilation consists of twelve bands with their own distinct talent scattered throughout the tracks.

The compilation begins with Balance & Composure’s grungy “Seahorses.” Singer Jon Simmons drudges his voice through muddy rhythm guitar and glimmering lead arpeggios. The song’s delicate tone under Simmons’s angsty voice gives the track a melody that’s beautiful but a bit unsettling. CSTVT’s track, “Bassett St.,” is a bit more upbeat, with a multitude of jazzy lead melodies. The high mood is consistent while the rough vocals give the track an aggressive kick. “Cursed” by Daylight is another grungy track with deep, growly vocals. The rhythm is made of heavy power chords and yelling—plenty of yelling. Daytrader’s “Text And Tomes” is an aggressively played song with dizzying lead melodies and passionately high vocals. The following track, “I’ve Got An Idea…” by End Of A Year Self Defense Family is a savvy tune. From the accents in the vocals to the careful articulation of the bass-walking melodies, the song has a particular maturity and sounds like a song from an earlier era. Hostage Calm’s “The “M” Word” is a happy-go-lucky track laced with timeless energy and poppy, 1950s melodies. “Coats” by Make Do And Mend offers a rougher sound with a badass lead noodling melody. Make sure to play this track as you commit a rebellious act in slow motion for full effect.

The Menzingers’s “Irish Goodbyes” brings the compilation back to fast, rugged punk chords. The name of the song says it all. “Killin’ It” by Polar Bear Club is a highly energetic tune jam-packed with powerful rhythm and melodic growls. The track sounds like something Rise Against would release. Tigers Jaw’s “Distress Signal” is the compilation’s standout track: a mix of indie and progressive melodies with vocal aggression fly over a melting pot of loopy guitars and passionate harmonies. “Die Alone” by The Tower And The Fool opens with a soft lead melody and subtle drumbeat. The pace of this song is slow, deliberately focusing on the tune’s deep emotion. Along with the lead licks towards the end of the song, it makes for a soft landing before the end of the compilation. “To The Janitor, To The King” by The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die is even softer than the track before it. Its acoustic opener and pretty arpeggios give the song a folky melody. Midway through the song, there’s a surprising electric solo that grunges through the rest of the track. The song fades on a light psychedelic note behind an indie rhythm.

Run For Cover’s Mixed Signals compilation is worth a listen. There are so many good bands that take the backseat to groups with a more mainstream sound. This is a good opportunity for any post-genre fan looking to broaden their musical horizons. Run For Cover Records’s Mixed Signals compilation is out now.

★★★.5/★★★★★

*This review was composed by Jose Terrero