By Serene Dominic

Although it reached this milestone with the minimal of fanfare, Ryan Avery's label of local eccentrics and their music, Related Records, has reached the one year mark and to commemorate it, Related Records is offering to sell its entire year's physical output of CDs and cassettes (15 in all and an $81 value) for only $50. Included in this cornucopia of cool are the likes of Drunk and Horny, Treasure Mammal, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Father's Day, Sweat Lodge, Dinosaur Love, Mary Ocher and three other selections.

In the interest of full disclosure, there are two Serene Dominic cassettes included in this package. Two titles which I've been informed, much to my chagrin, are the worst selling items in the entire Related Records catalog. This confirms Related Records' selling point that I am truly "Phoenix Arizona's most under-appreciated artist EVER!" Related Records are only making ten of these bundles available and if they sell all out, it will be ten more copies than either of these cassette titles will sell likely sell in the near future.

Also included in "The 1st Year Bundle" is a live, direct-to-micro-cassette recording of the Aquabats (yes those Aquabats) playing an acoustic campfire set for their fans at a Cadet Beach Party in 2002 (Ryan Avery was Cadet #3489). Not sure what the legality is behind issuing such a cassette when Saturday morning TV stars are involved. But for an envelope-pushing label like Related that includes used copies of "Vicki Carr's Greatest Hits" and Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" on its product page, it goes without saying it's better to be funny than predictable.