Topshelf Records is an underground record label based in Massachusetts that has steadily been gaining recognition and esteem since it was founded in 2005. They have put out vinyl releases for nearly 30 independent artists, many of which are characterized by an emotive punk sound that has been on the rise in the past few years. In the past, Topshelf has supported bands such as Defeater, You, Me, and Everyone We Know, and Connecticut’s own recently-disbanded emo heros My Heart To Joy.
On this 2011 Label Sampler, Topshelf has included tracks from these bands and more. In addition to the 23 songs culled from different Topshelf-released records that came out in the past year, the sampler even features non-label artists like La Dispute and Touché Amoré.

Overall, this extensive compilation is a very solid document of the current emo and post-hardcore revial throughout the East Coast and beyond. Also look out for tracks by Connecticut’s the World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die–an incredible atmospheric emo group with post-rock influences–and Into It. Over It. (aka Evan Weiss), whose sampler song “Augusta, GA” will be included on his forthcoming Topshelf Records LP Twelve Towns.

Download the entire sampler for free at the Topshelf Records website by tweeting a link to it or “liking” the Topshelf Records facebook page.