2004, Wooden Man Records,

Music, for many, is what makes the world go round. This year, Muncie's music scene has taken leaps and bounds to be heard and to be recognized. With the addition of a Web site for the Muncie community (www.TheMuncieScene.com), as well as numerous shows, this has been a prosperous year for the local music scene.

Deric Shannon, who has given much to the Muncie music community in the past few years, is offering the student body one last gift before he goes. Shannon and Tyler Watkins, who has recorded and mixed several Muncie bands' albums, have compiled 21 tracks from different local bands on one album (many of which are exclusive to the compilation). Titled the "Workman's Comp. 3.5," the album is a continuation to compilations Shannon has released in the past on his Wooden Man Records label.

"I just finished 'Workman's Comp. 3' and realized that I could make a comp that was just as diverse and good," Shannon said, "but only include bands from Muncie (instead of the whole Midwest). Being rather proud of the music scene here, I just decided to do it."

The album as a whole highlights the different styles and backgrounds of Muncie's music community.

"(The comp) is good all the way through," Eric "Doog" Alexander of the band Clearance said. "It's an accurate representation of the eclectic Muncie scene."

The album is indeed an example of the different music that local bands have to offer. It features everything from metal, to punk, to electronic-influenced rock, to indie-rock and a plethora of other genres.

"The Muncie scene is a really diverse group of musicians," Dustin Cox of NewClear said. "It seems to be several scenes represented in one... Of all the many places I've been Indiana, and Muncie in general, just seems to produce the most talent." Tommy Miller of Oblique adds that, "Muncie is special because we are a small town with a ton of bands that span all genres and manage to represent all of them well."

The new Workman's Comp. wastes no time showing off the unique talent of many of Muncie- and Ball State-bred bands. This album is likely one of the most significant things that the local music scene has ever created.