Various Artists - The Enigma Variations Vol. 2

The Enigma Variations 2 (also catalogued as The Enigma Variations Vol. 2) is a highly regarded alternative and college rock compilation album released in 1987 by the seminal American independent label Enigma Records. Serving as a sequel to the label's acclaimed 1985 sampler, this sophomore installment functions as a historic time capsule documenting a crucial pivot point for the label as it transitioned from underground goth-rock into a diverse powerhouse of power-pop, skate punk, electronic wave, and neo-psychedelia. The release earned a dedicated cult following among collectors because rather than merely repackaging standard album tracks, it offered a unique "double-shot" format—pairing established underground hits alongside previously unreleased songs, rare B-sides, and exclusive live tracks.

The album's tracklist reads like a directory of 1980s indie royalty, featuring legendary contributions from The Dead Milkmen, Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper, Wire, T.S.O.L., Agent Orange, and Game Theory. While Enigma Records was achieving massive mainstream commercial success at the time with multi-platinum glam metal acts like Poison, the label consciously omitted those stadium-rock mainstays to keep this compilation strictly focused on its artistic, counter-culture roots. Long out of print across vinyl, cassette, and early CD formats, this release remains a highly sought-after artifact for crate-diggers looking to experience the authentic sound of late-80s American college radio.

When The Enigma Variations 2 arrived in record stores in 1987, it had a formidable task: mapping out the wildly shifting identity of one of America's most important independent labels. Enigma Records was undergoing a massive growth spurt, caught between its foundational roots in the underground post-punk scene and a sudden, unexpected influx of mainstream commercial cash. What makes this compilation a triumph is that it ignores the radio-friendly metal acts that were keeping the label's lights on, choosing instead to deliver a fiercely eclectic, brilliantly curated celebration of left-of-the-dial alternative rock.

The primary brilliant stroke of the album is its structural commitment to the "double-shot" format, offering listeners a much deeper dive than the standard, surface-level label samplers of the era. The curation expertly balances satire, grit, and melody; listeners are treated to the chaotic, brilliant humor of The Dead Milkmen's "The Thing That Only Eats Hippies" and Mojo Nixon’s anti-commercial rant "Burn Down The Mall," which are sharply contrasted by the driving surf-punk precision of Agent Orange's "Fire In The Rain." By allowing key bands on the roster to showcase both a known anthem and an unreleased obscurity, the album feels less like a corporate promotional tool and more like an intimate, late-night college radio broadcast.

Musically, the compilation thrives on its jarring but exhilarating lack of genre cohesion, a testament to the open-mindedness of late-1980s alternative music. It seamlessly transitions from the cerebral, jagged post-punk of UK legends Wire ("Ahead") to the jangly, melancholic power-pop of Game Theory ("Erica's Word") and the brooding goth-punk of T.S.O.L. ("Colors"). Even synth-pop gets a look in via SSQ's driving electronic track "Playback," proving that Enigma was willing to champion any sound as long as it possessed an authentic, independent spirit. This unpredictability creates a dynamic listening experience where the sonic geography is constantly shifting, keeping the listener hooked from side to side.

Ultimately, The Enigma Variations 2 is a beautifully preserved monument to a golden age of independent American music before the major labels swallowed alternative rock whole in the early 1990s. It stands as a vital historical blueprint of a label firing on all creative cylinders, capturing a transitional moment when "alternative" genuinely meant a distinct, uncompromising alternative to the mainstream. While the album has been relegated to the physical-only history books and out-of-print status, it remains an essential, highly rewarding listen for anyone trying to understand the DNA of 1980s underground rock.

Ripped to MP3

1. Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper – Burn Down The Mall

2. T.S.O.L. – Colors (Take Me Away)

3. The Dead Milkmen – The Thing That Only Eats Hippies

4. Agent Orange – Fire In The Rain

5. Plan 9 – Man Bites Dog

6. Wire – Ahead

7. Don Dixon – Praying Mantis

8. Wednesday Week – Why

9. Game Theory – Erica's Word

10. Peter Hammill – Too Many Of My Yesterdays

11. Plan 9 – Ship Of Fools

12. The Dead Milkmen – Stupid Maryann

13. Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper – Amsterdam Dog Shit Blues

14. T.S.O.L. – Best Friends

15. Agent Orange – Bite The Hand That Feeds

16. Wire – Drill

17. Wednesday Week – That Train

18. Game Theory – Shark Pretty

19. Don Dixon – Why

20. S.S.Q. – Pleasure Dog