Various Artists "Enjoy The Greeks II" 2006****

The second instalment of "Enjoy The Greeks" was released as a promo with Greece's most popular and historic music magazine Pop+Rock (1978-2012). Contrary to the first one which aimed to introduce Greek rock to international audiences, this freebie is aimed at the local market and also features mainly (but not exclusively) bands related to Thessaloniki's On Stage Records. Now these bands are virtually unknown even in Greece outside a small circle of garage and rockabilly aficionados, so the magazine tried to include at least a couple of names its readers would recognise. One of them must have made many people happy: Last Drive's debut EP "Midnite Hop" was the scene's first circulation ever (1985) as well as one of the most coveted vinyls of Greek alternative rock. This rockabilly gem has since been re-released but at the time was very rare, and the magazine used a vinyl copy as source. Another relatively known in the circuit band is Purple Overdose, represented here by a previously released demo of the 1993 B-side "2008 Old View" (probably influenced by The Doors and early Pink Floyd). The 3rd veteran band here is Alexandros Perros & The Lone Stars, a legend in his native Thessaloniki but less familiar to Athenean audiences. They're adept at playing in many different styles, and resort here to slow, Cramps-like, psychobilly. With the exception of the 3 abovementioned tracks, all others are previously unreleased. The Ducky Boyz play psychobilly in The Meteors vein, while there's a wealth of retro 50's sounds, including Gene Vincent/Brian Setzer rockabilly from The Rockets and Breathless, Buddy Holly-style pop (The Bullets' "Little Angel", great backing vocals and harmonica) and crooner pop by George & The Hustlers. The Frantic V offer vintage garage pop with "Treat Me Kind", while another pure 60's-sounding band are the all-girl Meanie Genies (Here with their version of Sam The Sham's "Little Red Riding Hood"). 

These girls have been around for a long time and were fantastic live. Great stage presence and playing, it's such a pitty they only left a measly couple of 7' singles behind. The Teardrops' "I Cry" is an enjoyable  Seeds/13th Floor Elevators pastiche, while another 60's style band Yesterday's Thoughts offer a heavier garage/psych song. The darker side of psychedelia (Fuzztones-like) is also invoked by Mod Factor, Unknown Passage and Teddy Boys From The Crypt. Lastly, there are two instrumentals here, a heavy fuzzed-out one by The Psykicks and a good surf version of the oft-covered "The Bag I'm In" by The Overtones. All in all, and despite being a freebie, this compilation is the equal of the first one. The absence of any info on the bands is a big minus, since even in the Google era, most of them are completely obscure. At least our superhero Ouzoman makes a triumphant return on the album cover, carrying in his arms the two loves of his life, miss Garage and miss Rockabilly.

**** for Midnite Hop (Last Drive), Treat Me Kind (The Frantic V), Little Angel (The Bullets), Because (The Rockets), I Cry (The Teardrops), Really Killing Me (The Ducky Boyz), Lil' Red Ridin' Hood (The Meanie Geanies), Betty Page (Al. Perros & The Lone Stars), The Bag We're In (The Overtones)

*** for I Don't Love You (Yesterday's Thoughts), Thoughts Of Regret (George & The Hustlers),  What To Do (Breathless), Why ? (Teddy Boys From The Crypt), Shame On You (Unknown Passage), 2008 Old View (Purple Overdose)

** for  Dark Side (The Psykicks), Polymorphously Perverted  (Mod Factor)