Starting as a relatively alternative music/hip-hop crew Beyond have metamorphosed into an all-seeing all-knowing rap phenomenon. Furious rhyming/scratching/b-boying, Billy Chaos leads the way through new rap dimensions.

Clayface has lead a pretty nebulous existence over the years. Firstly, they are a post hardcore band, made up of members of Doggman, and the wildly popular Say No More. Sometimes known as Clayface Regular, as they are billed on this record, they were the best, and often times only, hardcore band in eastern Nebraska.

Over the years, we here at -ismist Recordings have been compelled to release a couple compilations due to the overwhelming amount of talent that resides in the Midwest. We have released some of the finest indie compilations you could have hoped for as a result.

Formed shortly after the demise of Frontier Trust (a little bit country) by vocalist Gary Dean Davis and drummer Joe Kobjerowski, this band (a little bit rock and roll) simply rocks the house with some great tunes. Great music for high-speed chases.

"Let me tell you something, friends. Doug Stanhope is one funny sumbitch. He's also one of the most twisted individuals I've ever met, but that's part of his charm.

Chicago's finest new combo picks up where the Stranglers, Devo and Roxy Music left off.

Fifty Tons of Black Terror, as they are known in the US, have been around since 1995. They come to us on the heels of two albums released on Beggars Banquet. These guys play heavily noise addled blues, and are coming for your daughters.

Floating Opera started in the early '90's as a recording project with participation by many of the best musicians in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Frontier Trust started in 1992 and ended in 1997, with brief reunion gigs every once in a while. Frontier Trust made honest Midwestern working class music played at breakneck speed.

This could be a B-movie soundtrack entitled, "Attack of the Killer Nebraskans," showing at a drive-in near you. Swank psycho-billy guitar, intoxicating organ, hypnotizing fez.

Fun Chicken were a band from North Platte, Nebraska that defied many expectations. The main one being: How the hell does a band from the middle of nowhere come up with something so damn cool?

Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1992 by multi-instrumentalists/songwriters, Jeff Carlson and Doug Edmunds, Gladhands has followed a slow but steady road to success.

Graig actually had the most interesting things go on in the early days of the label (back when we knew him as Greg). Releasing solo records, guitarist of Urethra Franklin, and bassist of seminal punk band Pull Out.

Honeyboy Turner and Cryin' Heart. They had been around Lincoln for a couple of years, and approached -ismist about doing a record in late 1994. They were a Chicago-style blues band that were a crowd favorite and strong seller for the label.

Hour Slave were a band of high school seniors here in Lincoln. They were a promising young band in a scene that sorely lacked new younger groups.

House formed in 1986 with origins in math classes at the University of Northern Iowa. They have released many albums over time, being on major as well as indie labels.

Working in a sort of comedic short-story form, Shubert hammers at the funny bone primarily with his observations on wildlife: frogs that secrete hallucinogens, eagles that copulate in midflight and an unlucky fish who sees a restaurant serve his friend Larry on a bed of rice with a side dish of carrots and peas.

Omaha's Jimmy Skaffa was conceived in late 1992 by ex-members of local ska bands Knuckle Junction and the Porkpie Conspiracy.

Killdozer were an integral part of the underground "pig fucker" movement, along with contemporaries Big Black, Butthole Surfers, Scratch Acid and Pussy Galore.

Kung Pao was formed in the spring of '97 when Chovie D and T.B. moved to New York City from Madison, WI. They quickly hooked up with drummer Davey D, who rocks more than anyone could have hoped for.

Many of you already know Lewis. For those of you who haven't been introduced, Lewis Black is primarily known for his weekly segment on Comedy Central's Daily Show entitled simply, "Back in Black."

The Lost Dogs formed late in 1996, shortly after the demise of Lincoln's renowned Honeyboy Turner Band when Mike Brindell and Bo Rose joined forces with the producer of the first Honeyboy album, Dave Steen.

Mimi Schneider was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in the 1960s. She has spent time in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Great Plains, and the post-industrial Northeast. Guess which she prefers.

Named after an underground group of Irish-immigrant coal miners in 1870s Pennsylvania who, prior to the rise of union labor, insured their positions by blowing up their own work sites and committing corporate assassinations.

The Monroes (named after the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe) formed shortly after Davis' last project, D Is for Dragster, took its last checkered flag.

Ninja School formed in May 1999, in the slave-labor induced stupor of Wichita, Kansas. The have quickly progressed to release a self-recorded seven-inch single, that we quickly picked up for distribution. You folks will recognize this as being compared to Scratch Acid and Unsane. They stride the middle ground. Intense.

Penthouse, as they are known to the world outside the US, have been around since 1995. They come to us on the heels of two albums released on Beggars Banquet. These guys play heavily noise addled blues, and are coming for your daughters.

As the farm crisis of the 80s turned many Nebraska family farms over to corporate behemoths, "No Future" seemed at hand for the American farmer. Pioneer Disaster responded...

Born in Germany, 1990, Plastik Trumpet has transcended all cultural and musical boundaries.

Polecat was formed out of Omaha's Gravy Train and -ismist's Hour Slave. For the first year of their existence, they practiced under their college dormitory's cafeteria (the same dorm that -ismist started in, actually), in a practice room originally designed for piano and vocals only.

Pop Sickle were a great pop-punk band from Seattle, formed by ex-Coffin Break member, Rob Skinner.

Rascal Basket were a Lincoln band, specializing in a heavier sound, reminiscent of Black Sabbath during Ozzy's reign supreme, or of a middle period Soundgarden. The playing was loud, the songs were great, and the band put on an entertaining live show.

Ravine basically formed after the breakup of the legendary Ritual Device. Three of the four decided to stick together and continue to play music.

Red Max formed in 1985. Lincoln's very own kings of garage/greaser rock, nobody does it better than them. Listen in as they leave a huge bag of flaming dog shit on your front porch and go tooling of into the sunset.

The Return have been around for quite a few years actually, and have had several line-up changes over time, featuring all sorts of people.

Richard Schultz is a long time veteran of the music scene in Eastern Nebraska. He has been a journeyman performer best known for his fantastic songwriting and even more incredible showmanship.

Ritual Device were one of our favorite bands ever. They were at the forefront of the Omaha music scene.

Row 8, Plot 30 formed in August of 1996 with the fusion of members of two Omaha-area bands.

Where do we start? Hmm, Richard Schultz decided he wanted a band, he got one.

Scrid were formed in October of 1993 in Fort Madison, Iowa. They quickly moved to Iowa City the following Spring, where they currently reside.

Sean, well, he's a hell of a blues guitar player. Been a member of the renowned Zoo Bar's house band for 20+ years.

Season to Risk started in 1989 in Kansas City, Missouri. The guys have been touring ever since, pounding the pavement hard in support of their various records.

The Sissies are a temperamental Lincoln bunch who seem like an American Pogues, but with a better dental plan.

Slipknot formed in Des Moines, Iowa in September of 1995. This seven-piece outfit comes from intensity, and displays all of the elements of a growing Great Plains movement of discontent.

Formerly from the backwoods of Iowa, Sludgeplow moved to the Pacific Northwest, most likely to get away from some local beefs.

Formed in Columbia, MO in 1999 by Shannon Mercer and Brian Coughlin (former Ditch Witch guys). They convinced friend, Steve Ruffin to join them and thus SKXL became the normal kind of band...

Jangly, overdriven, indie-pop at it's best.

Mystery band from the former Soviet Union.

Stew were a band from Kearney, Nebraska formed by Jason Anderson in 1993 and then broke up in December of 1995. Not terribly long for a band to last, but what an impression they made.

Such Sweet Thunder formed in Kearney, Nebraska in 1988. They were well known in the state as one of the forefront local original bands.

Todd is a singer/songwriter and co-author of several early Such Sweet Thunder songs. His live set usually consists of just him and a guitar and some of the most touching songs you have ever heard.

Originally named Triphammer, but having to change for legal reasons, they chose Tucker. After playing around NYC for about three years, and recording with Steve Albini...

Urethra Franklin was the best of the early bands from Lincoln on -ismist. They were just plain evil.

Water was a band of high school seniors at Lincoln's Southeast High School. They had won a battle of the bands, went on tour in the summer of 1993, and broke up shortly after the tour. They were a very emo-punk type band, and the songs were good overall....

Wide is a full-on Electric Rock unit, invading your living room under the command of Lt. Col. M.F. One, who flails funkily and wields his weapon with great panache.

The Young Executives were a mainstay in the mid-late 1980's pop scene in Lincoln. The fact that they weren't a cover band did much to help them.