Various Artists - DIY - Mass. Ave. - The Boston Scene (1975-83)

D.I.Y.: Mass. Ave. - The Boston Scene (1975-83) is a definitive 1993 compilation album released by Rhino Entertainment that chronicles the explosive birth of Boston’s underground rock movement. The 18-track collection captures a fertile era when local musicians blended the aggressive edge of garage punk with the emerging melodies of power pop and new wave. Centred around iconic, sweaty venues like Kenmore Square's legendary Rathskeller (The Rat), the album serves as a gritty audio time capsule of a fiercely independent, highly localized musical subculture.

The tracklist brilliantly balances regional anthems with rare recordings, offering a comprehensive look at the scene's diverse sonic identity. It features underground staples like Willie Alexander's title-inspiring "Mass. Ave.", Mission of Burma’s art-punk masterpiece "That's When I Reach For My Revolver", and an early, pre-fame demo of "You're All I've Got Tonight" by The Cars. Music collectors and historians can find full pressing details, credits, and physical copies of this essential retrospective on Discogs.

Various Artists - DIY - Shake It Up! - American Power Pop II (1978-80)

DIY: Shake It Up! - American Power Pop II (1978-80) is a definitive compilation album released by Rhino Records on 16 February 1993. Curated by Gary Stewart and remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry, it serves as the third volume in Rhino's acclaimed nine-part D.I.Y. series documenting the underground punk and power pop movements. This specific collection captures the vibrant, melodic energy of late-1970s American guitar rock, featuring legendary tracks from influential bands like The Romantics ("What I Like About You"), Shoes ("Tomorrow Night"), and 20/20 ("Yellow Pills"). Enhanced by distinctive cover illustrations from alternative comic artist Peter Bagge, the album is highly regarded by music historians as an essential archive of an era defined by catchy hooks, driving rhythms, and independent songwriting.

The album provides a comprehensive look at the regional scenes and independent singles that kept mid-tempo rock alive right before the rise of MTV. It bridges the gap between mainstream radio rock and the emerging college alternative scene, highlighting essential contributions from acts like The Rubinoos, Paul Collins' Beat, and Chris Stamey & The dB's. By collecting rare 45rpm singles and underground fan favorites, the compilation highlights a brief but passionate window in American music history where power pop briefly crossed over from local club circuits to national subcultural prominence.

Various Artists - DIY - We’re Desperate - The L.A. Scene (1976-79)

DIY: We’re Desperate - The L.A. Scene (1976-79) is a 1993 Rhino Records compilation documenting the foundational late-70s Los Angeles punk and power pop scene. Curated by Gary Stewart and remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry, the 21-track album features essential recordings from artists such as X, the Germs, and the Weirdos, accompanied by liner notes from Pleasant Gehman.

The compilation showcases a mix of aggressive punk and melodic, art-focused tunes from bands including The Dickies, The Zeros, and The Plugz. It serves as a critically acclaimed, historical document of the raw, pre-mainstream Southern California underground music landscape.

Various Artists - DIY - Blank Generation - The New York Scene (1975-78)

DIY: Blank Generation - The New York Scene (1975-78) is a 1993 Rhino Records compilation documenting the rise of punk rock in lower Manhattan, featuring diverse acts from the Ramones to Talking Heads. It serves as a critical, varied archive of the late-70s underground scene, showcasing the era's raw energy and art-school influences.The album serves as a historical overview, blending iconic tracks from artists like Patti Smith and Blondie with influential songs from bands like The Dictators and The Cramps. This compilation highlights the diverse, pioneering sounds of the era that profoundly shaped alternative music.

Various Artists - DIY - Come Out And Play - American Power Pop I (1975-78)

DIY: Come Out And Play - American Power Pop I (1975-78) is a seminal compilation album released by Rhino Records in 1993 as part of its influential nine-part D.I.Y. series. Curated by Gary Stewart and remastered by Bill Inglot, the 19-track collection chronicles the underground, hyper-melodic guitar rock blooming across the United States just as punk rock exploded. Heavily influenced by the British Invasion, these independent and cult artists relied on a strict "Do-It-Yourself" work ethic to tour and self-release singles, bypassing the mainstream music industry. The album is visually tied together with cover illustrations by acclaimed alternative comic book artist Daniel Clowes.

Musically, the compilation functions as an essential time capsule of energetic hooks, driving rhythms, and tragic cult heroes. While it features marquee names like Cheap Trick, its true value lies in preserving foundational regional singles, such as the original version of "Hanging on the Telephone" by The Nerves and the haunting "I Am the Cosmos" by Big Star co-founder Chris Bell. By gathering these hard-to-find tracks in one place, the release serves as both a definitive historical archive and a perfect introduction to the high-energy, jangly sound of American power pop's golden era.

Various Artists - DIY - Starry Eyes - UK Pop II (1978-79)

DIY: Starry Eyes - UK Pop II (1978-79) is a premier compilation album released by Rhino Records in 1993 as part of its acclaimed nine-volume DIY series. This specific installment captures the vibrant transition period in the British music scene when the raw aggression of punk rock evolved into the melodic, hook-heavy sensibilities of power pop and new wave. Featuring 19 tracks, the collection serves as an essential sonic time capsule of late-70s Britain, blending major chart-toppers with rare, highly sought-after singles from the era. The album's title itself pays homage to the power pop classic "Starry Eyes" by The Records, setting a bright, guitar-driven tone for the entire compilation.

The tracklist balances legendary, genre-defining anthems with hidden gems from underground acts. Listener favorites include the Buzzcocks' bittersweet punk-pop masterpiece "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)," Squeeze's kitchen-sink drama "Up the Junction," and The Undertones' high-energy "Get Over You." Alongside these staples, the album shines a spotlight on essential contributions from artists like XTC, Joe Jackson, The Jags, and The Tourists (featuring a pre-Eurythmics Annie Lennox). Highly praised by critics for its impeccable curation and crisp audio remastering, this out-of-print compilation remains a definitive primer for fans of late-70s British alternative pop.

Various Artists - DIY - Teenage Kicks - UK Pop I (1976-79)

DIY: Teenage Kicks – UK Pop I (1976-79) is a premier compilation album released by Rhino Records in 1993 as part of its influential nine-volume D.I.Y. series. Curated by famed archival producers Bill Inglot and Gary Stewart, this collection serves as a definitive time capsule for the explosion of British Power Pop and New Wave in the wake of the punk revolution. Rather than focusing on the abrasive, political edge of mainstream punk, the album gathers nineteen sharp, melodic tracks from seminal artists like The Undertones, Nick Lowe, Squeeze, and XTC. These musicians filtered the raw, aggressive energy of the era into tightly crafted three-minute singles, capturing a moment when the independent UK music scene was bursting with hook-filled rebellion and youthful urgency.

The compilation is highly celebrated by music critics for its historical accuracy and impeccable track selection, bridging the sonic transition from gritty pub rock to polished post-punk. By highlighting both massive underground anthems—such as the title track "Teenage Kicks"—and obscure cult classics, the album illustrates how a "Do-It-Yourself" ethos democratised the British music industry. It showcases a vibrant period where independent record labels and self-producing artists bypassed traditional gatekeepers to redefine the landscape of modern pop. Today, the album remains a gold-standard reference point for collectors and music historians studying the evolution of late-1970s alternative rock.

Various Artists - DIY - The Modern World - UK Punk II (1977-78)

Part of Rhino's acclaimed 9-volume D.I.Y. series, this second UK volume serves as a chronological follow-up to Anarchy In The UK - UK Punk I. It captures the pivotal transition period when raw first-wave British punk began fracturing into post-punk, new wave, and mod revival. The collection is notable for its excellent sound remastering by Bill Inglot and detailed historical liner notes written by rock journalist Jon Savage.

DIY: The Modern World - UK Punk II (1977-78) is a premier compilation album released by Rhino Records on 19 January 1993. Serving as the second UK-focused volume in Rhino's acclaimed nine-part D.I.Y. series, this 19-track collection captures the pivotal transition period when raw, first-wave British punk began splintering into new wave, post-punk, and the mod revival. Curated with historical precision, the album features essential tracks from legendary acts like The Jam, Buzzcocks, Wire, Generation X, and Siouxsie and The Banshees. Music journalist Jon Savage provided extensive liner notes for the release, while renowned audio engineer Bill Inglot handled the digital remastering, making it a definitive sonic time capsule of Britain's underground music scene.

The compilation is highly praised by historians and collectors for balancing commercial hits with obscure, influential tracks that shaped the future of alternative rock. Listeners are treated to a diverse sonic landscape that ranges from the pop-infused energy of The Rezillos to the art-punk experimentation of Magazine and The Fall. Because it was released during the early 1990s CD boom, physical copies of the album have long been out of print, turning the original Rhino disc into a sought-after collector's item on music marketplace sites. While official digital versions are rarely available on modern streaming services due to complex song licensing, the album's tracklist remains a gold standard blueprint for anyone looking to understand the evolution of British independent music.

Various Artists - DIY - Anarchy In The UK - UK Punk I (1976-77)

This compilation serves as a definitive sonic time capsule of the initial explosion of British punk rock between 1976 and 1977. Released by Rhino Records in 1993, it bypasses polished retrospective narratives to deliver the raw, urgent energy that defined the era. By sequencing foundational anthems from the Sex Pistols and The Damned alongside highly influential tracks by Wire, X-Ray Spex, and Buzzcocks, the album captures a movement fueled by political disillusionment, youth rebellion, and a fierce do-it-yourself ethos. It brilliantly showcases how these bands dismantled traditional rock structures, replacing them with fast tempos, stripped-down instrumentation, and confrontational social commentary.

Beyond its historical significance, the album highlights the surprising musical diversity within the early UK punk scene. Rather than presenting a uniform wall of noise, the tracklist moves seamlessly between the sharp mod-revival style of The Jam, the dark pub-rock textures of The Stranglers, and the aggressive proto-hardcore speed of Wire. It acts as both a perfect primer for newcomers and a deeply satisfying compilation for collectors, offering rare demo versions alongside definitive single releases. Ultimately, the collection proves that while the first wave of British punk was short-lived and chaotic, its artistic rebellion permanently altered the trajectory of modern rock music.