"On their third installment of This Is Indie Rock, Deep Elm has hit the indie nail on the head. They spotlight standout tracks from rock bands like Campsite, Broken October, Element and Softer. There's also focus on a softer side with bands like ReedKD and Annuals, as well as a hip-hop mix style with Konrad. Again, Deep Elm has shown up to the party, brought beer and offered this world of broken dreams and short careers some hope! Three thumbs up and a big thank you to all involved. This is my number one disc so far for 2006!" - Independents Only

"A hugely-respected series both in its American homeland and over here in Britain, This Is Indie Rock is a compilation series featuring unreleased songs from a glut on the world's hottest new bands. Having carved it's reputation in the American post-hardcore community, Deep Elm has long since used this series to showcase all genres of indie rock and portray itself as much more than a blinkered label for the hardcore fraternity. Thus what we find is glitchy, melancholic beat pop from ReedKD, synth punk from England's Encyclopedia and a rash of testosterone-fueled indie bluster from the likes of Popmonster, Softer and Konrad. It is without doubt the most essential compilation of the year for any rock fan lost in a desperate search for new music; there's a hell of a lot of us out there." - The Downloader

"This Is Indie Rock is a compilation that is fantastically varied and that allows bands the world over the chance for people to hear their music. And as ever Volume Three holds some beauts. Openers Free Diamonds are ridiculously good pop; Annuals' song is a country tinged piece of folk mastery that will have you tapping and rocking along; Element's Sparta-esque rock is a sure fire winner and Reed KD's gentle electro-pop will warm even the coldest cockles. With every compilation you will certainly discover a couple of bands you will want to embrace into your life and musical collection. I for one hope this series carries on for along time yet casts its musical net ever wider. Deep Elm aren't just making compilation CDs with the Indie Rock series, they're performing a valuable public service." - Tasty

"The third effort of This Is Indie Rock, the fascinating series of never before released songs, Deep Elm have selected yet another twelve artists worthy of attentive ears. Bands from England, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and the United States grace the ones and zeros of this never ending and continually inventive mix of diversity. As the boys of Free Diamonds open up the record, you can already perceive the amount of effort that goes into making this compilation as diverse as it can be. With angular guitars and alarmingly charismatic vocals, Free Diamonds do an amazing job. Campsite and Encyclopedia follow up respectively with two different genres of music before Annuals tear it up in a nonchalant manner. The Swiss act known as Popmonster come in on the second half of the album with Salty, trilling with a dreamy yet brazen orchestration. Reed KD exhibits his relentlessly inventive electronic beats and swooning vocals with the sequestered track Seventeen. Lush vocals and staggeringly angular guitars are heard as the North Carolina natives Almighty Flying Machine disperse their talent on their crippling feat Call Her the Craze. Deep with fluctuating talent, the third volume of This Is Indie Rock has once again highlighted a number of independent acts, many of which countless people would never of heard without the help of Deep Elm Records." - Adapt

"This Is Indie Rock Volume 3 puts forth one of the strongest lineups in the series. Starting with Free Diamonds' falsetto and free-spirited tempo, the record keeps the flow going with the Franz Ferdinand-reminiscent strains of Campsite and the electronic, sequenced emo of Encyclopedia that will keep heads bobbing and feet tapping. The third volume of This Is Indie Rock is so impressive due to the pure variation of the songs. You'll find an electronic, inorganic track (ie: Encyclopedia) followed by down-home rock of Annuals, then Konrad's low-fi version of Bloodhound Gang. Broken October really make strong case for having the best song. Using a piano for the primary motivator, their Yellowcard-like vocals put forth an intensity that is belied by the smoothness of the finished product. Tracks such as these are of high enough quality to really give listeners a reason to pick up the band's full album, which speaks to the quality of the compilation." - Neufutur

"Featuring twelve songs, This Is Indie Rock Volume Three is very diverse. Nice Day by Annuals has an almost folk-like quality to it. Encyclopedia's track, Let's Be Friends, is one of my favorites on the album. Their style is sort of like Reggie and the Full Effect with how they incorporate the keyboard. Element's Wake From This has great harmonies and guitar hooks which make it another highlight. This comp has a really great mix of styles." - Impact Press

"This Is Indie Rock Volume 3 is jam packed with today's up and coming indie artists. Basically, it's a public service announcement letting us all know that we should get to know these bands because they're going to be huge. Deep Elm always seems to know the who's who of indie rock. This series of compilations are not to be missed. If you're into checking out new artists, I suggest you not only pick this volume up, but all three volumes of This Is Indie Rock are masterpieces." - Epunk

"Deep Elm continue their admirable march onwards with the This Is Indie Rock compilation series, which showcases small, unknown bands on a national scale. Thankfully Volume 3 is quite a varied little compilation, upon which you may find next years emerging stars, with hip-hop, bedroom emo/electronica and yelping indie rock all getting a look in. It's also interesting to note the distinctly outward looking international flavor present here, with several bands from the UK as well as Holland, Switzerland, Canada and, of course, the USA. If you have a penchant for the indie/emo/bedroom electronica side of things, you could do a lot worse than pick this up." - The Communion

"For the third volume of This Is Indie Rock, Deep Elm has locked in a diverse selection of bands from around the world. I'm not sure if there is one that steals the show, but many come close. Broken October features great piano, rhythms and vocal harmonies. Annuals has a folk-like sound complete with acoustics, finger-snapping and a classic vocal performance. Element takes a cue from Sparta while Almighty Flying Machine's angular performance brings to mind a ridged post-punk band. Konrad and ReedKD both use techno beats but the first raps while the second puts an indie touch on it. On the final song by Softer, the drumming is attention-grabbing while the dueling guitars help build things up. As a whole, it is an impressive effort that ends the promising compilation. As I said before, there isn't a single band that runs away with the trophy. However, the level of talent is extremely balanced which makes for songs that are worth repeated listens. By now, anyone interested in Deep Elm should have an idea of what they're going to get with This Is Indie Rock: solid up-and-coming talent." - Acclaimed Punk

"As reliable as the atomic clock, Deep Elm's long-running compilations never fail to introduce at least two new previously undiscovered bands that make one hell of an initial impression. This time around, the 'it' bands for me are Broken October, whose emo/post-hardcore sound feature harmonious Bad Religion-like backing vocals, and Quebec's Satellite Of June, with their energetic guitar-driven punk-influenced indie rock. Both of these bands beg the question: why haven't I heard of them before? The other ten bands on here are far from being mere filler. Dutch group Campsite feature dramatic male/female vocals around their gentle pop and the UK's Element clock in with some tasty 90s alernarock. Almighty Flying Machine gets nods for having a band name that matches the band's soaring musical soundscapes. Come for the musical diversity and stay for the thrill of finding a great up-and-coming artist...it's truly an enticing proposition." - Pastepunk

"The third installment of Deep Elm's This Is Indie Rock series finds the label exploring some new sounds in their traditional collection of emo, punk, indie rock and metal. While it still remains true to the spirit of independent and unsigned music, the sounds of the bands are a bit more diverse. Take the album opener in Free Diamonds' Blind Boys: it's a manic indie pop rocker that bubbles with garage rock effectiveness and gurgles with abandon. Album standouts include Campsite, Broken October, Konrad, Encyclopedia and Almighty Flying Machine. The collection is still open to any unsigned act and accepting submissions for Volume Four so get your band on this hottest piece of indie rock." - Smother

"This Is Indie Rock is the new compilation series from the number one independent label Deep Elm. The fact that the bands on the third volume are mostly unknown is such a great thing. Featuring such bands as Annuals, Almighty Flying Machine, Konrad, Broken October, Reed KD, Satellite of June, Softer and a lot of European bands like Free Diamonds (now signed to Deep Elm), Encyclopedia, Campsite, Popmonster and Element. The best thing about the compilation is the quality of the songs, all unreleased, and all different in style, but played with the same passion, love for music and will to make good songs." - Truepunk