Various Artists - The Enigma Variations II (Vinyl)

The Enigma Variations II (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.

The Enigma Variations II (Vinyl) Ripped to MP3 has two additional tracks to the CD. See if you can find them...

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. Jon St. James - Rainy Taxi

11. Peter Hammill – Too Many Of My Yesterdays

1. Plan 9 – Ship Of Fools

2. The Dead Milkmen – Stupid Maryann

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

4. T.S.O.L. – Best Friends

5. Agent Orange – Bite The Hand That Feeds

6. Wire – Drill

7. Wednesday Week – That Train

8. Game Theory – Shark Pretty

9. Don Dixon – Why

10. S.S.Q. – Pleasure Dog

11. Peter Hammill - Painting By Numbers