Manhattan on the Rocks (1993)

New York's underground rock lab breeds bands charged with the city's abrasive energy. Although Manhattan on the Rocks is short on originality — save for the wonderful, muttering-in-the-corner weirdness of Ism and Big Stick — this stirring sampler probes Nirvana grunge (Stigmata A Go Go), industrial dance (Emergency Broadcast Network), and punk (False Prophets) with skill and enthusiasm. B