On the record: Various

Artist: Various

Album : JKT: SKRG (Aksara Records)

While the local mainstream rock scene is pretty dull, indie rock is not necessarily the desired alternative.

Most of the bands are pretentious, blatant ripoffs of Western groups, offering half-baked material that assures they never land record deals.

Through this compilation of 12 local indie bands, we get to see the better side of the indie scene.

Arrangement-wise, there is no half-baked material here, and surprisingly, some of the works are excellent and pretty original.

It kicks off with Aku Cinta J.A.K.A.R.T.A (I love Jakarta) by folk pop/rock band C'Mon Lennon, a playful anthem appropriate as the capital's soccer club anthem.

The Upstairs, synthesizer-laced rock with witty lyrics, is pretty awesome. But skip Teenage Death Star (trying too hard to be The Vines and The Hives) and Brandals (adolescent stuff) to get to gritty hard rock with veteran band Seringai, or Zeke & The Popo.

The latter's song could easily be on any Radiohead album, but still stands on its own merits nonetheless.

Traces of broken English and pretension can be found, but the album resoundingly proves that the capital's indie scene is anything but doom and gloom. -- Hera Diani