An incredible piece of punk and skank here and all for only a nugget. This is worth far more than the fee suggests but such is the tight-fisted attitude of the scene today and the overwhelming blandness of the download brigade. As stale and as void of any spirit as I can imagine its these keyboard orientated fuckers that are ripping the scene to shreds with their boggle eyed indifference and disparate priorities. I hope this CD sells by the bucket load as I do all compilations that are done with the right attitude but I expect it will be a struggle - past evidence proves this to be a very saddening possibility. Pathetic ain't it? So, with as usual, emphasis on being honest and taking time to assess, another compilation CD gets my full attention.
A loud fuzz in and then the skanky retro garlands are adorned with 10 'O'-Clock Horses and the optimistic beauty of 'High Pavement'. Reminiscent of early ska and of a very classy standard. An exclamation of 'Come' and The Griswalds are at it with the slurry blah punk tirade 'Hate Your Guts'. A contrast of pieces already displaying that this CD will take many twists and turns and for me that's exactly what a compilation should do.
The Living Daylights enter into the fray with 'Hidden In A Smile' a sound similar in fact to several Punk-O-Rama bands (compliment or insult) that gives hint of a very qualified band to say the least. Not everyones tipple but destined to access the vaults of popularity. Ben KP Smith (potentially a crisp and nut retailer) knocks out the pavement prose of 'Knuckles And Pride' an accoustic slice that builds in rage and is a darn good serving. Addictive Philosophy slink their way in with yet more retro-feeling skank and the delightful 'Supernatural Race'. As smooth and as polished as you like and lacking the previous tracks bite which is a nice point to note for future compilation compilers.
With the aforementioned yell of 'Come' we have next the second intercut by The Earl Of Hemmingroyd this time by the name of 'Numbhead'. A quick rap attack cum poetical lunacy that is added here and there throughout the CD and I think is a crackin' inclusion despite a wanky production that is marred with unnecessary buzz. Shame because the pieces are short, snappy and flow-breakingly catchy. So comes forth 'The Hijacks' with the youthful burst of 'Love Thy Neighbour' an adequately effective piece as is Heroic Doses and 'St Algernon...'. Both tracks exude pace and add acceleration to the CD in general. 9 tracks in, overall good quality, an abundance of new listening material and potential new bands to see. What more could one want?
One of my fave bands next with The Despondents issuing another rusty backdated quick ditty that is as catchy as ever and goes under the banner of 'Ain't Got Much'. The Rutherfords pursue with the drunkenly slurry 'Leave Home'. Poppy and simplistic and again easily caught in the aural net - Nice! Another burst by The Earl with an amusing rhyme about 'Five Pee' and the problems of having only that (crazed) and we are greeted by 'Specifically Toast' with the ludicrously entitled 'No It Is The Bad Kind Of Puppy'. Light punching pop punk that maintains the inoffensive frothed up feel that makes the CD a pleasure.
Not even halfway through and the risk of RSI increases as I type this lengthy appraisal. Mike TV and 'Dumbfuck' surges higher and to be honest if someone claimed that this was an early Green Day recording I wouldn't be overly shocked. Take that as you will but it is a solid track and ideal for the peripheral punk who likes things processed rather than puked. Pass the gange time as Tolerance hint at 60's cycle rock with 'A.S.B.O' and the pre-pubescent Kid Vicious gloriously scream their way through the enjoyable 'Vicious Party'. Great balloon popping fun that precedes the next installment of insanity from The Earl with the excrement based 'I Met Her Down At The Sewer' which in turn offers no inkling of the following drooly slop of 'Will You Be My Girlfriend' by The Atoms. A schluck yucky piece but surprisingly likeable nonetheless.
Hang on in there folks we are gradullay getting there! Quick breather and here we go again.
Track 19 by Love and a 45 is called 'Sold Or Seen' and is a glamourous escapade that is again sloppy seconds punk but still does OK despite a lack of testicular tetchiness. The Human Targets '50 50 Dicey City' screeches in with punky skank brakes that are well and truly busted as the whole affair careens all over the rhythmic highway and manages just to stay on track to create a chaotic discord liable to please most perusers. 'Berkeley Court' by The Earl is an indecipherable scratched up mess before the classiness of Hateball shines through with the effective 'Blind Faith'. The Sedations crawl forth with the formulated 'She Sang Moon River' that teeters on the edge of several sub-genre's but remains nebulous whereas The Pop Fosters 'Phoenix' comes across as a rough and ready concoction that seems unfinished and lacks the sharp execution of many other songs on this CD. More strained underproduced rants from The Earl with 'Empty' before the massive moment of the CD is upon us with a fantastic snippet of The Murderburgers last CD released in all it's popping brilliance. 'Outta My Mind' is a tremendous inclusion and just reinforces the fact that this lot are a vital viewing for me in the near future. The Zatopeks do well to hold their own after this shuddering outburst but they do just that with a sloping approach that relies on expert composure and high standard delivery - perfect antique pop.
By fuck The Earl is here again with a brief gabble called 'It's The Day'. Mike Scott knocks in a nice accoustic drawl with 'The Provocation', Capguns and Coke chug along adequately with 'Teenage Broken Heart' before the bluesy rock 'n' roll Beach Boy's burst of 'Fun, Fun, Fun' crashes ashore via the talent of The Hotlines.
The last 3 tracks are raped and pillaged with yet more utterances and padded cell noises from The Earl with 'Chicken' 100% madness, 'Shit More' a reflection of a crippled mind and 'Come On' - mmmm!
Within these 3 disturbing waffles comes the superb skank of Tyrannosaurus Alan showing a remarkable growth and new level of output with 'Futures', an excellently positioned hardcore explosion called 'Twitch' by the brilliantly named Hangover Heartattack and the tidy mellowness albeit squeaky clean 'On The Words Of Others' by the tranquilly named Hudson.
So there you have it - a veritable thesis as far as reviews go but if the guy who produces this puts the effort in and keeps the cost so low then it's worthy of the effort as are 99% of the CD's I review. Overall a fuckin' bargain and you spoilt bastard punks and skankers have never had it so good as the computer age forces the hand of the compilation creator. A bit of an adventurous first effort this and if and when volume two arrives I expect more ravings (obvisously better produced) and more great songs which have a fair few new bands on for us all to discover. A top notch job!
http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/