More than three decades after putting out the seminal Berserkley Chartbusters Vol. 1 compilation – the album that introduced the world at large to power pop heroes like the Rubinoos, Jonathan Richman and Greg Kihn – the label’s founder Matthew King Kaufman is at it again. As an introduction to his new imprint, Fun Fun Fun Recordings, the Bay Area music fixture has put together MP3 Jackpot Winners! Like its vinyl predecessor, this collection neatly reflects the times, pulling together 19 songs from underground acts discovered and championed by the community of users on the free music site, mp3jackpot.com. Naturally, the sounds are much more diverse, covering everything from the heavy horn frenzy that heralds The Uptones’ social call to arms, “Ridiculous,” to Opal Book Club’s amazing garage rock tribute to old school skaters, “Tony Alva,” and the Stiff Richards’ classic punk throwback “Fell In and Out of Art” to Repulsa’s howling metal incantation “I Want You Dead.” There’s a lot to discover here and like the people online that were first introduced and became passionate about these songs, you’re bound to walk away with a new favorite band.
-Aidin Vaziri, SF Gate