VA - No No No: 28 Moody, Somber and Tragic '60s Garage Rock Sagas (1998)

Subtitled "28 Moody, Somber and Tragic '60s Garage Rock Sagas," this is devoted to the downbeat and subdued side of the garage sound, which is often overlooked in favor of the more common fuzz punkers. Most or all of the bands will be unknown even to those who collect such anthologies; the Savages, who did one of the best rare '60s garage albums, are probably the most famous, which is to say not at all famous. This material exhibits the influence of moody pop/rockers such as the Zombies and the Beau Brummels, as opposed to the typical Rolling Stones and Yardbirds derivations. There's also a frequent strong folk-rock streak to the guitars and harmonies, where the influence of the Byrds becomes apparent; Symmetry of Sound even do a raw version of the early Byrds LP cut "Here Without You," while the Missing Lynx' "You Hypnotize Me" actually sounds quite a bit like the early Byrds might have had they sung typically insouciant teen lyrics. Overall this is an average '60s garage comp, but does stand out from the crowd some via its emphasis on different kinds of songs.