Top Sounds - Comps
Dr. Strange 20th Anniversary Comp {Dr. Strange} Twenty years of record production is something to applaud and when it’s a label as reputable and sincere as Dr. Strange it’s cause for celebration. The label has put out over a 100 releases in that time supporting new bands as well as timely reissues of older cult classics. This comp is a vinyl-only deal and ultra limited. There are 300 picture discs and 100 black vinyl versions with silk-screened covers. Not only that, there’s a mini-zine retrospective of the progression of the label plus a patch and badge. And the music? It kicks off with the fuzzy, snotty debut Doc release by MANSON YOUTH and progresses through oldies like GOVERNMENT ISSUE, BLACK MARKET BABY and MAD PARADE and new releases (at the time at least) from the likes of THE FREEZE, 999, RHYTHM COLLISION and two of my most favourite bands the label released, WHATEVER and THE MARSHES. The tracks are presented chronologically and flow surprisingly well. The Doc has one of the best reputations in this Punk Rock world and, from experience, I can’t fault the way he conducts business. You better be quick if you want one of these (and you should!) - they ain’t gonna be around much longer. (26.07.09)
Fest 8: 2009 {No Idea} If ya can’t guess from the title, this comp consists of bands playing at the 2009 Fest in Gainesville, Florida. It’s a massive comp too, knocking in at just under 80 mins and consisting of 33 tracks. My personal favourites include YOUNG LIVERS, THE BOMB, DEAR LANDLORD, NO FRIENDS, THE MEASURE (SA), THE TIM VERSION, ASSHOLEPARADE, THE DOPAMINES, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO CANDYLAND, IRON LUNG, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS and PANTHRO U.K. UNITED 13. Notable also-rans include FIYA, GATORFACE, the fantastically named RELIGIOUS AS FUCK, PSYCHED TO DIE and RINGERS. Although this is a varied release with acoustic folkisms sitting next to crusty Hardcore juxtaposed against indie-pop warblings, there does appear to be an overabundance of bands that seem to bow at the altar of HOT WATER MUSIC, AGAINST ME! and DILLINGER FOUR. That said, those bands generally make the familiar sound fresh and vibrant. As a comp, this works way better than a cheesy label sampler. (10.01.10)
Mainstream Music Is Shit {TNS} I have a lot of respect for the fellas at TNS. I don’t always favour the collective’s musical preferences, but behind the record label - a label that puts out a 37-band double CD comp like this for the absolute steal of £6 - is a fanzine, distro, radio station AND a collective that hosts shows in the Manchester, UK area. This slab continues the label’s value-for-money ideals with one disc a decidedly Punk affair while the second allows the Ska-based bands to shine. The TNS bands come off well with SOUNDS OF SWAMI, REVENGE OF THE PSYCHOTRONIC MAN, STAND OUT RIOT and HARIJAN all being highlights. Other moments? D’CORNER BOIS, HYPERJAX, ACID DROP, the femme-led TERRORS, HOSTILES and KICKBACK UK all provide sonic stimulation. Each band has previous contact to the TNS Collective. Packaging gives contact details for the bands, it looks good and there is a sincerity about this whole collective that I would place alongside such bastions of UK Punk as Household Name and Boss Tuneage. The collective’s principals of anti-corporate influence and ‘Pay No More Than...’ grounding should be applauded. And this, if you have any so-called affiliations with the UK Punk Scene, is something to support. (29.11.09)
Monster Session {Outback RNR} Staged in Sydney in March 2009, the Monster Session drew together some major Australian Punk Rock names and put them all on one bill. Proceeds from the show went to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Australia. Additional to the show was this 22-track compilation which you may still be able to pick by hitting the Monster Session Myspace page. You get the bigger names - CELIBATE RIFLES and NEW CHRISTS (featuring RADIO BIRDMAN singer Rob Younger) - both of which make this worth the cover price alone. Then there are the lesser but awesome bands - BLITZ BABIES with two raging, melodic HC tunes, ROCKS doing a souped-up RAMONES meets SAINTS deal, and Funky-Dubby-Punky GILGAMESH. Other notables include the primal Lookout! Records snot Punk of LAWNSMELL, CRAZY LEGS VERMIN’s boozy rock ‘n’ roll bludgeon and MIDGET’s SCRATCH ACID/ KILLDOZER pummeling. DOWNTIME is an odd mix of solid FACE TO FACE riffage and some kinda slow, grungy track. Ultimately, this is more than just "a comp". Whilst supporting a cause, you also wanna know your cash isn’t gonna buy you a duffer. This sure isn’t; the bands I’ve not mentioned are not bad bands, just not my bag. As a comp of Aussie Punkage, you won’t find many better. Let’s hope this becomes a regular event. (19.05.09)
Skate Rock Vol. 1 {DC-Jam} In terms of recent compilations, this must stand as one of the most convincing of all. You get a double CD totaling 51 tracks performed by 30 bands. You want bands? This fucker has them!! Try GOVERNMENT ISSUE, BIG BOYS, JFA, DWARVES and SWINGIN’ UTTERS for starters. Throw in NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, TRUSTY, SST faves PAINTED WILLIE and one of the most underrated BYO bands ever in the shape of PEZZ and it gets better. Then there are the lesser known bands: COPYRIGHTS (snotty Pop-Punk not too far from SICKO or MTX), MINUS ONE (vintage-sounding New Wave Punk cool a’la NILS), NEW SKOOL KINGS (horrible name but choice ADOLESCENTS meets PENNYWISE tuneage), PLAN 9 (MISFITS wannabes but done sooo well), VENOMOUS (excellent wigged out MEAT PUPPETS style psych rock ‘n’ roll) and the bludgeon of AMERICAN WEREWOLVES and you can see this is a veritable cracker. Sure, there is the odd turd (NAKED LADY WRESTLERS for starters and I’ve never been a fan of FISHBONE) but show me a compilation that hasn’t got some faeces! Generally though, this is Punk Rock AOK all the way. (28.09.09)
Snapper Magee’s Good Music + Booze Vol.I {Altercation} I wanna visit Kingston, NY! This bar/ club north of Poughkeepsie, appears a veritable hotbed of hot rockin’, snot spittin’ Rock ‘n’ Roll. This comp acts as a showcase of those who have straddled the venue’s seemingly tiny barroom stage. You want names? ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, AVAIL’s TIM BARRY, HUDSON FALCONS and two dozen others all of which caught my ear bar some dire screamo outfit. Unknown (to me) highlights included THE CRYPTKEEPER 5, BLOODY HOLLIES, PLANESIDE (which was a deadringer to some amped JIM CARROLL coolness), BUZZ DELUXE which could be contemporaries of X, WHITE KNUCKLE RODEO, and the AVENGERS meets GO-GO’S bubblegum Punk attitude of THE DESIGNER DRUGS. Then there’s Rockabilly, upbeat Ska, RAMONE-o-core, working class Oi! noises, dirty CRAMPS snot Rock and even countrified Rock ‘n’ Roll not a million notes from AGAINST ME!. More venues should do this - this has inspired me to visit Kingston waaaay more than any local 'scene' based comp. Judging by the photography, it also looks a place where Punks, Skins, Greasers, Long-hairs and all kindsa general subversives hang out in harmony. Heaven could be a place on earth... (04.07.09)
This Is Peterborough {Rowdy Farrago} Geographical comps can be a double-edged sword. ‘This Is Boston Not LA’, ‘AK79’ - even ‘Live At The Roxy’ - epitomise a scene that is vibrant, convulsive and addictive. Too often, the comps lack focus and it’s a case of a bunch of locals trying to be something they ain’t. Of the 19 bands, only five are remotely original. Who are the coolsters in Peterborough, UK? Check the speedy Skate-Punk of RADICUS or the TURBONEGRO Death Punk of THE RUINED; the cool WIRE meets originality that is KYCKBACK or the trailblazers behind this comp, DESTRUCTORS 666 with a track displaying some natty lead guitar. Even INDUSTRY with a depth-charge bass rumble laying behind some cool Industrial beats impressed. But all the stadium rock wannabes (I’m not gonna name them) sound the same = B L A N D. The indie bands sound like lame fucking Ferdinand meets Coldplay nobodies. The Metal bands sound average - even Gizz Butt’s latest thrash band THE MORE I SEE (y'know the song? Never Again...), while being incredibly incisive, rely on cliches. One of the supposed Punk bands - DEAD SELLERS - come on like a bad Riot City band and made me cringe to the point of looking for Evo-stik. Fuck off boys... You sound as sincere as the flying squad you disparage. In general - disappointing. (23.03.09)
A Compilation 2002-2004 (Newest Industry), ALF SG Is This Wrong, Boss Tuneage Instant Singles Collection Vol.2, Brainsick Vol.1, Bredding Disloyalty, Counter Attack, Dirty faces Vol. 1.5, Dirty Half Dozen, Downloading MP3s Is Illegal And Punishable By Law, Down Under: A NZ/Aus Punk Compilation, Flip Your Head Vol. 1, Generations, Get A Haircut, Good Vibrations Punk Singles Collection, I Don't Want To Be The One To Say It, Music By People Who Drink Cider In The Gutter, Only The Diehard Remain, Our Small Tribute to Blondie, Play It Loud Vol.1, Rebel High Vol.1, Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 and 2, $lave 2005 Sampler, Standing Hard: A Youth Of Today Tribute, 25 Years Of Birmingham Punk, Ted Rogers EP, TKO Records 2007 Sampler, The Ugly Truth About Blackpool Vol. 1 and 2, This Is Not Your Soundtrack For Violence