Compilations

Just random compilations and what not that I had nowhere else to put, organized by year. Uh, enjoy. I don't usually buy compilations, since they are inconsistent and most of the time not the greatest introduction to a band, so this page will probably rarely be updated.

United Kingdom of Punk (1997) 7 Thumbs Up

A collection of songs from the first wave of UK punk bands, like the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks, the X-Ray Spex, the Damned, the Adverts, etc., designed to give the listener a brief introduction to these bands. The main problem is, in attempt to get punk fans who already know these bands to buy it, the majority of these tracks are either a demo version or a really shoddy live recording. The only songs that are actually CD versions are from bands that weren't influential at all, like the Suburban Studs and Spizz Energi. Plus, there's absolutely nothing from The Clash, arguably the most influential UK punk band of all.

If you don't know your early UK punk, the booklet that comes with the CD explains the history and importance of each appearing band, which is a far better introduction to the genre than any of these second-rate recordings. Although I have to give the compilation credit for introducting me to the Buzzcocks, the X-Ray Spex, and the Adverts, it fails by trying to please both new fans and jaded punkers, when it could have been a success by focusing on just one market. Most of these songs you will only listen to once. I wouldn't recommend it unless you really want to hear a demo recording or something.

Van's Warped Tour 2002 Tour Compilation (2002) 8 Thumbs Up

The first in a line of double-disk Warped Tour compilations. This CD has 50 tracks, one from each of nearly every band on the Warped Tour. For those who don't know, the Warped Tour is a giant travelling punk rock tour similar to Lollapalooza or Ozzfest that's been happening every summer for about 10 years. The Warped Tour has come under fire in recent years for becoming too commercial. This is possibly supported by the fact that nearly every band on this compilation is either pop-punk or emo. If I had paid a normal double-disk price for this, I'd be feeling ripped off and probably would give it a bad review. However, since I only paid $8.99 for 2 disks, I feel more amicable towards this compilation.

If you're into more mainstream pop-punk/emo, this comp is probably your wet dream. There's all sorts of bands, from the super-mainstream, like Sum 41, Good Charlotte, or Midtown, to the slightly lesser known, like No Use For A Name, Lawrence Arms, and Autopilot Off. There's also mainstream emo, such as Alkaline Trio, Taking Back Sunday, and Finch. Less mainstream fans might like the tracks by NOFX, the Damned, (!!) or Dag Nasty, but probably won't like it as much as the pop-punkers/skaters/emo kids. This compilation is great value if you're into that type of music.

Liquid Paper (2002) 9 Thumbs Up

This was a downloadable compilation from punk webcomic Nothing Nice To Say. According to author Mitch Clem, it was an attempt to get kids to "take out the Blink-182 and Green Day and get a taste of indie punk." This is a great compilation, with all sorts of good indie bands on it. There are both bands punk fans will probably have already heard of, like Jets to Brazil and Leatherface, along with bands that are far less well-known, like Mountain Goats or Kosher. Mitch even throws in a few local bands who you will probably never hear from again, like the Plastic Constellations and the Offset.

Either way, Mitch really knows how to pick a track to introduce the band to you. This compilation was what got me into The Explosion, with the awesome opening track, "No Revolution." Apocalypse Hoboken's "Pocketful of Lips," Against Me!'s "Pints of Guinness Makes You Strong," Leatherface's "Hops and St. Pauli!," and Jets to Brazil's "Sweet Avenue" are all great tracks. It comprises a lot of genres, though, so I had to endure many genres I really didn't like. However, if you want to delve a little deeper into the scene, this is the compilation for you.

Liquid Paper 2 (2002) 8 Thumbs Up

After the success of the first Liquid Paper, Mitch returned with a sequel. I guess he had more bands he needed to plug or something? Anyway, it opens with the awesome "Press Gang" by the Murder City Devils, which I think is the high point of this compilation. I don't think it's as consistent as the original Liquid Paper (I must be a closet purist, thinking follow-ups suck) but it's still a good look at indie punk. Kid Dynamite, Mountain Goats, Discount, and the Offset are back again, so if you didn't like them the first time, watch out. This compilation seems to dramatically swerve between bands that are very well known among the punk scene, like Jawbreaker and the Blue Meanies, and obscure local bands, like Fancy Pants and the Cell Phones or Ferd Mert.

I think the fact that the vast majority of this compilation is just bands of his friends that Mitch wants people to know about, rather than a selection of his favourite songs, is what drags it down. However, Argentinian punk band the Fun People's "Take a Shot" (which incidentally opens with a gun shot) is a good song, as is Mountain Goats' "Jeff Davis County Blues," the Blue Meanies' "Grandma Shampoo," and Boris the Sprinker's "Sheena's Got a Microwave." One moment that really drags the compilation down, though, is Fancy Pants and the Cell Phones' "Love Cruise." That singer has such a whiny voice that you just want to choke him. Anyway, good but not as good as the first.

White Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Clash (2003) 3 Thumbs Up

If this is how they're paying tribute to the Clash, Joe Strummer must be rolling in his grave. There's a good tracklisting, but every artist either covers the Clash like it's a) country or b) slow pop. Where's the variety? I mean, I want artists to do their own thing with the Clash's work instead of a bland cover, but c'mon. Every song is so lifeless, like the artist is just trying to get their name out there rather than do a good job.

The only good tracks are the Stiff Little Fingers' "Strummerville," (which isn't even a cover) Marc Carroll's languid yet somehow awesome "London Calling," and Hammell On Trial's rockabilly medley of "White Riot" and "Hitsville UK." The rest I can't even sit through. It ends with Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros' "Long Shadow," but I already paid for that album. Apparantly this is the first in a three part series. I don't know who could stand one, let alone three.

Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 (2004) 8 Thumbs Up

Back in the 80's, there was a giant punk rock festival called Rock Against Reagan. All sorts of now classic punk bands, like the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, and Reagan Youth played on a flatbed truck to anyone who would listen. Fat Mike of NOFX and his organization, Punkvoter, want to stir up this sort of punk unity all over again and get Bush out of office. This is a compilation of some of the bands supporting Rock Against Bush. Most have submitted new, rare, or otherwise previously unreleased recordings in hopes that their fans will buy the record and support their cause. I bought this album to check out the unreleased Sum 41, Descendents, New Found Glory and Less Than Jake songs. The Offspring also contribute a rare song, and Jello Biafra (vocalist for the Dead Kennedys) contributes a solo song with D.O.A. that is supposedly not rare, but I had never heard. Pennywise also contributes a track, but it's on their album From The Ashes.

Anyway, Less Than Jake's track was just a remixed version of a song from their album Anthem, and I didn't think it was that great. New Found Glory's track isn't so good, either - far too poppy. But Sum 41's track is surprisingly hard hitting considering what you'd expect from them, and the Descendents' track could've been on Cool To Be You. Jello Biafra's fast metal-like song and the Offspring's classic sounding track, though, take the cake. The low moment of the CD is the Ataris' horrible cover of Bad Religion's "Heaven is Falling," which sounds like it was recorded on an 8 track. It's also disappointing that Social Distortion contributed one of their most popular songs, "It's the Law." But I found myself enjoying the Soviettes, Against Me!, and Anti-Flag, (guh? I normally hate that band) even though I didn't buy the compilation for them. It's great bang for your buck. Who knows? Some of these bands could be legendary in 10 years!

Back to Reviews Back Home