If the OutKast reunion has revealed anything beyond a shadow of a doubt, it’s the homogeneity of music festivals today. One band headlining 40 shows over the course of six months? Those aren’t festival appearances, they’re tour dates. Which is fine — everybody everywhere should get a chance to see OutKast — but the best festivals have identities and idiosyncrasies that reflect their region, their confines, their attendees, and their organizers. In that respect, Chicago’s punk-themed Riot Fest does a pretty good job of standing out, and this year, for their 10th anniversary, they’ve further separated themselves from the pack by booking 10 bands who will perform their “seminal” albums in full. Those bands/albums are:

Jane’s Addiction: Nothing’s Shocking
The Offspring: Smash (Chicago)
Weezer: “The Blue Album”
Slayer: Reign In Blood
Samhain: Initium
NOFX: Punk In Drublic
Descendents: Milo Goes To College
Naked Raygun: Throb Throb
The Get Up Kids: Something To Write Home About

…plus one more TBA.

That’s a pretty cool lineup, and a legitimate selection of “essential” albums. It’s worth noting that the Slayer, Samhain, and Descendents LPs clock in at less than half an hour each. In fact, based on the running times of the albums being performed, the Offspring will actually have the longest set here, although Jane’s will almost certainly jam on “Ted, Just Admit It…” for 20+ minutes. The Chicago festival (there are also Riot Fests in Denver and Toronto, although with different bills) goes down between 9/12 – 9/15. Get details/tix here.