"The first volume of This Is Indie Rock is so brilliant that I think this is going to be the best compilation series EVER. The record features twelve little known yet very interesting indie bands, covering any genre of music. Among the most famous you can find Clair De Lune, the Deep Elm band that already released the masterpiece Marionettes. There are a lot of surprises on the comp: The Pit That Became A Tower, The Kidcrash, Throat and Siva are some of the finest bands around. Second Hand Stories and Joanna Erdos are two very nice surprises, and be sure to get to know Lakota and Winter In Alaska as well. This Is Indie Rock is super good and it will easily be remembered as one of the top records in 2004." - Truepunk

"This Is Indie Rock picks up the baton left behind by the Emo Diaries and continues to run unabated. Standouts include the epic confusion of Clair De Lune, the bittersweet pop of The Blind Kind and the gorgeously intoxicating delivery by Joanna Erdos. However, the real beauty lies in the overall quality. Combining a myriad of styles - from hardcore, pop and of course indie - Deep Elm have yet again come up trumps in unearthing some of tomorrow's top indie rock stars. Bring on Volume two!" - Big Cheese

"Deep Elm, a fierce little label out of North Carolina, continue their mission of sifting through the chaff, bringing you This Is Indie Rock, which features a dozen new finds that you can't classify (sorry, major label monkeys). There is the low slung casual distortion of The Pit That Became A Tower, molten lead fury of Clair De Lune, the Bright Eyes-meets-Sparklehorse beauty of The Blind King, the screamo of Dino Velvet, coffee shop fragility of the acoustic Second Hand Stories, the knife-edged sharpness of the melodic Throat, the art school workshop softness of Winter In Alaska, tangled piano and aching soul of the delicious Joanna Erdos, the barefisted thuggery of Siva, big Bob Mould-styled soul searching from Lakota, Wilco-style dreaming from Leaving Rouge, and the modern rock snap of The Kidcrash. In short, these twelve bands approach music from different angles, representing a whole new chapter in Deep Elm's quest. As always, Deep Elm is a name you can trust." - Culture Bunker

"This Is Indie Rock is exactly that...indie rock, and lashings of it. Totally open submission, it brings together exclusive tracks from bands as far afield as Jerusalem, Ireland and Santa Fe. This is a fine collection. From Dino Velvet's At The Drive-In-esque electronica-tinged melodic hardcore to Joanna Erdos' piano-led evocation of the likes of Fiona Apple and the very best female vocalists around, via The Blind King's marvelously understated Indie Pop Song and the Husker Du-like pop-punk of Lakota, This Is Indie Rock scores hits left, right and center and provides something to love right across the spectrum of independent music. Deep Elm is just one of those labels you can't help but love, and it's because of records like this; and not just because of the music, but the ethic." - Alternative Nation

"This Is Indie Rock rather great. Winter In Alaska are moody alt-rock lamenting with style, while Second Hand Stories' folk-flecked tale telling is only usurped by the effortlessly sweet tones of Joanna Erdos, who's probably listened to a Cat Power record in her time. Screaming hand-clapping loons Siva and Dino Velvet's At The Drive-In yelping ain't bad either. And full marks to The Blind King, who cut straight to the chase with the cheeky but measured Indie Pop Song. Smart." - New Noise

"After defining the emo genre in a respectable and admirable way with their Emo Diaries series, Deep Elm Records is back with Volume One of what we can only hope will be a new compilation saga. This Is Indie Rock is a more expansive umbrella, allowing the label to put acoustic indie rock meanderings, mid-tempo emotive grooving, and spastic freak-outs side-by-side. This first volume features mostly unknown bands from the States and abroad, something I've always given kudos to Deep Elm for doing. It would be so easy to plunk established bands from hip epicenters onto these things; instead we get a varied sampling of upstart bands from off the beaten path, kicking and scratching to be heard. For more on that, see Dino Velvet and their maniacal scream therapy session. Just one of many excellent new bands to check out on here." - Chord Magazine

"I don't know any label that delivers quality goods at the same rate as these guys do. This Is Indie Rock is everything it claims to be: the best bands you've never heard. A very open-ended interpretation of indie rock characterizes this CD, ranking quality of music and recording at a far higher priority than genre appeal. No two bands sound alike, yet their songs are woven together seamlessly to produce a compact disc that is more an album than a compilation. You'd be surprised how well these songs do alongside one another, considering those involved probably never heard of each other either. I used to consider the Copper Press samplers the best place to go to discover new indie rock bands, but This Is Indie Rock has that one beat. I think this is going to top the Emo Diaries as well..." - Punk International

"Deep Elm has been plugging along with their compilations of unreleased material from some of the world's coolest up and coming bands. This Is Indie Rock marks a new beginning for the label. One band that really grabbed me was Second Hand Stories with a very gentle acoustic song with some pretty fun finger-picking. Yeah, a little different for Deep Elm but I have a feeling that this will be a band we see something big from. Throat's contribution is great. They are heavy but not heavy enough to grate. We also get the quiet (the softly spoken Joanna Erdos) followed by the agro-loud (El Paso's Siva). Run out and grab this album if you are into discovering new, unheard music. Deep Elm is doing us a service by picking through all these bands." - Music Emissions

"Deep Elm Records has long been known as a leading independent label, as well as one that releases good compilation series. Their long running Emo Diaries series recently came to an end and now they're debuting a new series, This Is Indie Rock. Throughout the compilation you will find many different kinds of artists, including singer/songwriters like Joanna Erdos and Second Hand Stories, as well as a few mid-tempo rockers in The Pit That Became A Tower and Leaving Rouge. The highlight tracks for me come in the form of Marionettes from Clair De Lune and Throat, who lend a track titled Saturday which is easily the catchiest and most fun on the album. Another band worth mentioning is Siva. Their song features some bass groove and quite a bit of raw energy. The best thing about this record is that the bands are from all-around the globe so you get a taste of many different musical styles. You can also trust that Deep Elm picked some of the best, as they have always had a good eye for the indie scene. If you're looking for a comp with quality, then This Is Indie Rock would definitely be a good choice." - Acclaimed Punk

"On This Is Indie Rock, Deep Elm has put together twelve unknown bands that will have you hooked in no time. The Pit That Became A Tower easily turned me onto their music more than any other artist on this record. This Jerusalem-based band surprised me beyond belief. Next up is Clair De Lune, who gives my head a shake or two, making me realize how talented they are. Second Hand Stories' empathetic track mixes in enthralling acoustic work, but it only gets better from here. Joanna Erdos' song completely swept me off my feet with its simple yet passionate articulation. Siva put forth their take on post hardcore with G, and Lakota captivate you with their upbeat rock. The Kidcrash end this first volume with Bells And Hammers, a fine, polished mix of straight up rock. True to their beliefs, Deep Elm hands you twelve up and coming artists for you to choose from. This Is Indie Rock shows exactly how things need to be done." - Adapt

"From the ashes of Deep Elm's The Emo Diaries (all ten of which are great resources for hard-to-find, as well as mainstream independent rock bands) rises a new series compilation in the same spirit, This Is Indie Rock. Clair De Lune offer up Marionettes, a track you can't find on their LP. The Blind King provide an interesting mix of alt-country, electro and indie rock. Second Hand Stories is reminiscent of Death In June and Current 93's apocalyptic folk. Throat are a seriously catchy power pop / arena rock quartet from Ireland. Brooklyn's Joanna Erdos adds a little bit of soul with her R&B piano styling. Texan natives Siva are as if the early 90's Gravity screamo scene concentrated their ferocity more on the music, over the look and attitude. Lakota's song brings to mind Bob Mould's Sugar. The disc leaves us with The Kidcrash and a wonderfully depressing emo-rock number. It already looks and sounds as if This Is Indie Rock will surpass its predecessor in style and quality." - Feast of Hate and Fear

"Deep Elm has brought us This Is Indie Rock so that listeners can feel the music, spirit and resolve of the independent artists, and it works quite well! Compilations aren't normally my weapon of choice, but with a good mix of unknown bands, the label has effectively covered as many angles as they could. Fans of all genres of music will find something they like, and even a few surprises. Buying This Is Indie Rock could open your horizons and easily provide you with the perfect soundtrack." - Mammoth Press

"This Is Indie Rock is dedicated to rooting out the best of the underground, and this comp is incredibly a worldwide effort as the bands hail from as far away as Israel and Ireland and as unlikely as El Paso and Hackettstown, New Jersey. So it's a no-brainer when you say that this is representative of all the varying degrees of indie rock. Some of the standouts include Winter In Alaska, Clair De Lune, The Pit That Became A Tower, Second Hand Stories and The Kidcrash. But there's much much more that was packed into this release that's sure to be just as successful and ground breaking as their Emo Diaries collections were." - Smother

"Deep Elm has decided to address the needs of the indie rock faithful with its first showcase for new and upcoming bands in This Is Indie Rock. While Larne outfit Throat and Jerusalem band The Pit That Became A Tower are among the chosen twelve, the remainder of bands hail from the US, offering up everything from the sublime to the workmanlike. Highlights include the melodic angst of The Kidcrash, the mix of crazy time changes and techno keyboards from Dino Velvet and Minneapolis' Clair De Lune with some well-worked fury. The star here, however, has nothing to really do what many would call indie rock. Joanna Erdos' song has no guitars or peddles: just a voice, piano and drum kit, but it sticks from the first time you hear it." - Radio Telefis Eireann