Punk Rock Union Vol. 1Sep 01 '03 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Give 'em the boot, or for copyright purposes, don't. Back in the wee months of a couple of years ago, I had the crazy idea to compile some of the punk rock songs I actually liked, squeezing loads of songs onto one small disc. Anyway, what follows is Punk Rock Union, a disorganized collection of some of the songs that I thought were good enough to deserve a place on here. Now, being one of the first records I burned, the tracklisting is sloppy, and alot of artists contribute 3-4 songs. Still, check out this sloppy collection of great punk rock songs. I'll be overviewing each song just a real CD, but I put it the Major Performers section because this is based around their contributions. So let's get started. 26 Tracks 12 Bands 1 Person who actually listened to it.... Punk Rock Union Vol. 1 Also of note, I am aware that some of these songs are not punk. But hey, I'm an a*shole and I'm stupid, so don't blame me! 1. Third Season - AFI The third season is fall. Fall has Halloween. AFI isn't exactly the wittiest band, but this single off Shut Your Mouth...And Open Your Eyes is a decent intro, a mid-tempo song full of chanting and rallying. Havok actually sounds older than 13 on this album, amazingly enough. More like 15. It's not the greatest song, but still a good listen and a decent choice for opener. (What, did you think I was gonna degrade my own CD?! No way!) 2. Kemp - Millencolin This is the original version of the song from the Pennybridge Pioneers EP. Mixing a hard rock styled riff, this is Millencolin at their hardest. No skate punk here, instead replaced by deafening guitars and Nikola shouting the angst-filled lyrics at the top of his lungs. Even though it does contain the word "super-crappy", I'll forgive it for being one hell of a rock song and offering a great guitar solo. Plus, the music video is pretty funny too. 3. Blackball - The Offspring A classic off their self-titled album, Blackball is the band it's most politically charged. Lines like "Those who win the game give up their minds, now I don't call that winning" answer that question you ask everytime an Offspring pop hit plays on the radio. People debate whether The Offspring is punk or not, but from the attitude to the music, this one is. Great lyrics, a nasty guitar section, and Dexter Holland at his highest volume...a great song by The Offspring. 4. Of Greetings and Goodbyes - AFI Don't ask. I liked it then, I hate it now. A bit too poppy for my likes. 5. Stickin' in My Eye - NoFX By far one of my favorite songs by NoFX, this one mixes some great singing by Fat Mike at his snottiest. The song sounds stupid and immature at first, but if you examine the lyrics closely, it's actually a really witty piece of social commentary. The riffs are fast and catchy, as is the whole song. This humorous and smart song is a classic NoFX song when they hit their prime in 1994, and this proves it. I feel unusual from thinkin', 'bout the underground decay (god help me), kill beneath the camera, watch the world begin to cry, its not from pity, it comes from whats been stickin in my eye 6. Seattle Was a Riot - Anti-Flag Well, now this was quite a long time ago, back when I actually liked Anti-Flag. While I still think that Justin Sane is a bit whiny, the music in this song is great. The basslines laid down are just amazing, as is the fast and powerful riffage. This is probably the first song by the band I heard, and it's really intense and powerful, dealing with the events that took place, if my mind doesn't fail me, in Seattle. I usually don't like the band's songwriting because they tend to go way overboard, but the simple and effective writing here is actually a pleasant surprise. Good song with a cool drum section toward the end. 7. Sanity - Bad Religion At first, I thought nothing about this song, but now it's one of my all time favorite songs. Using layered vocals by Greg Graffin, some really nice guitar work by Gurewitz as usual, and some of the best lyrics the band has written, I love this song. It's a mid-tempo song with a simple beat, but Graffin's vocals totally dominate. Gurewitz again goes wild on his guitar at certain sections. Powerful, slow, and emotional, which is on par with every great Bad Religon song. 8. The World - Pennywise Straightforward, hard, and biting, this was the first track I heard off the band's 2001 album "Land of the Free?". This fast-paced punk song mixes urgent and speedy verses with and an interesting change in tempo during the chorus. Byron McMackin is a monster on the drums, and Fletcher rips through the song with his axe. This song really wakes up you up and kicks your a*s, and personally, that's how I like my songs. The World, is a smoking gun and it's loaded, soon it's gonna blow you away, but for now nobody has noticed, but we're going to...have our..day! 9. 21st Century Digital Boy - Bad Religion King Crimson fans might notice the song title as a play off one of the band's song titles. This is the original, harder rocking version of the song, with raw vocals by Greg Graffin, and a march-like hard rock riff led by Brett Gurewitz. This anti-ode to kids being raised by technology is perfectly written. Gurewitz is absolutely wild on the amazing guitar solo, one of the best the band has ever written. The whole band chimes in on the super catchy chorus, and this hard rocker really bites you with both music and lyrics. 10. Come With Me - Deviates The band taken under Fletcher Dragge's wing sounds alot like Pennywise, but this song mixes some great riffs with some really nice vocals by the band's lead singer. Their album is a bit dissapointing and repetitive, but this lead single mixes some very Pennywise-like riffs...oh hell the song sounds alot like a Pennywise effort, with "whoa-ohs!", angry, layered vocals. Although the band's songwriting deals with social ideas rather than political ones. This is the freshest of their songs, and offers a really nice guitar section as well...if I didn't say that a million times before. 11. Every Single Day - Pennywise One of my absolute favorite songs from the band, this song gives a stark and positive message, something that Pennywise did very well until they got p*ssed off 24/7. The "whoa-oh!" chants are used perfectly, and Jim's vocals are just perfect here. The lyrics talking about living for every single day, and the lyrics are just awesome. I LOVE this song, and no matter what material Pennywise may put out, this will be among my all-time favorites. Also one of the first songs I heard from this band. 12. Man or Mouse - Millencolin "It has alot of yeahs..." might be your first reaction to this song. This catchy rock song hits you hard and never really lets go. It's catchy, but tough and has a really nice riff backing it up. Nikola's basslines are also intricately laid down in the track. The heavy riff and strong drumming by Larzon really make this song a catchy rock effort by a band known for it's skate tuned songs. Not much to skate to, but still a great song. 13. Automatic Man - Bad Religion Another song from Bad Religion's No Control album, this sarcastic song deals with our obsession with heroes. The song features some really quick guitar work, and Graffin and the band really hook you in during the chorus. The biting and humorous lyrics with some great vox and Gurewitz as usual make this one a great song thats unfortunately done before you know it. Fast, furious, and over in a second. 14. Valley of Dreams - Tiger Army Punk-a-billy is something only a few bands can do well, and Tiger Army does it really nicely. This song, well, isn't that great, at least compared to other song on this compilation, but still has alot of soul and emotion injected into it, through the loud and vocals. They stray all over the place over here, and aren't tight, but still the song is pretty decent. 15. Material Boy - Millencolin Fast, skate-punk is next with Millencolin! This spoof of Madonna's song has alot of vocal hooks, but still is fast and fun, and one of the band's better efforts off Pennybridge Pioneers. The song even has a few folk influences, although they're played at abound a thousand miles an hour. And a guitar solo?! This one had me won over from the start. Catchy, fast, and relentless describe this song in three words. 16. Elders - The Offspring Another song off their self-titled, this one features some great music, but is really made by Dexter Holland's vocals as he sings about the generation gap between people and elders. This song seems like some teen-angst song, but with Holland and the Offspring at the helm, it's alot harder hitting and alot more fun to listen to. Also, there's a pretty sick guitar solo towards the later part of this song. Newer Offspring fans will hate this one, but fans of their older material will love it. It's got some melody, but is alot more raw in production quality and material. Great song. 17. The Power of Moonlite - Tiger Army Now here we go. This is an amazing Punk-a-Billy song with some cohesion on the part of the band. When the lead singer sings "The Power of Moonlite!", well the effect is really unique. Almost like a twisted swing song with some creepy guitar parts, and some very nice vocals. It's fast, but has alot more soul and swing than most of the tracks on this album. Very unique and very catchy stuff. 18. Fingers Crossed - Millencolin Poppiest song on the album? Probably. Still a catchy effort by Millencolin, with yet another appearance on this compilation. The sugary sweet chorus and verses may scare some off, but it's actually pretty fast paced and a great listen. Another quality track by the Swedish skate punkers. 19. Twice as Nice - Deviates Another aggressive and fast song from the band, except for the vocals, this song is again very reminiscent of a Pennywise song. The backup and layered vocals are used perfectly, and this aggressive song packs a harder punch than their previous track on this album. Quick and crunchy power chords with a fast-pace and aggressive vocals? What more can you ask for?! 20. Alien - Pennywise Back when I was obsessed over this song, I decided to burn it on the compilation. I don't quite like it too much anymore, but it is a pretty original track for the band. Also the most radio-friendly song they've done. Jim Lindbergh's vocals get a little too strained trying to sing in key, but overall I still think this is a pretty decent song. The vocals and melodies are pretty haunting, although the video is disturbing. Fletcher's guitar carries this song as well, and musically it's pretty solid. 21. Dissapointed - Face to Face An in-your-face rock song with some really nice vocal hooks. The lead singer has a great voice, and drums are just plain freakin' awesome. Face to Face has been gaining some recognition among the community, and this single of theirs is pretty solid. The music is led by a great bassline that repeats through the song. Everything comes together in the chorus as the band sings.... Disappointment is what you've made this Expectations overrated Disappointment is what you've made this My ambition is so deflated 22. Doing Time - MxPx Anyone seen the movie Godmoney? This was a track for that movie, and a pretty good track. I wasn't a big fan of Mxpx, not a huge fan now, but this song is quick and catchy stuff. The song deals with how school isn't all that bad, and how you gotta "Do your time" and get over with it. Sounds alot like Blink-182's older material. Good stuff. Really upbeat too. Fun was cartoons Saturdays Fun was staying up past eight lame was trying to fit in lame was the wrong crowd let me in I got through it, I feel fine I went to school and did my time In a sense I'm out, in a sense I'm free to be what I wanna be 23. Mother - Danzig Mother?!?! Whoa, it's been ages since I've heard a Danzig song. This one dominated headbangers ball a few years after the album, and this live version and some great reaction from the fans. Danzig slowly chants Mother louder and louder between lines, until the song rockets off. That's all I've got to say about that song. Not really a punk song, but a good rock song nonetheless. Mother Tell your children not to walk my way Tell your children not to hear my words What they mean What they say Mother 24. Diseased - Bad Religion Disturbing, powerful, emotional, loud, and Bad Religion at it's best. This was when they first were on Atlantic Records off their album Stranger than Fiction, Diseased is a disturbing song dealing with a relationship gone awfully wrong. The lines are interestingly written from the perspective of an obviously f*cked up person. It begins with the sound of horns, as the guitars kick in at full volume. Greg Graffin's vocals are simply amazing on this song, just p*ssed off as hell, yet sympathetic like the person he is portraying in the song. The dark riff and tone of this song is unrivaled. You and me, have a disease, you affect me, you infect me, I'm afflicted, you're addicted, you and me, you and me... 25. Slumber - Bad Religion The intended closer, Slumber is off the Bad Religion album "Stranger Than Fiction", and while having weakly sung verses, has a haunting chorus. The song's theme deals with nihilists who believe their life is worth nothing, as Graffin yells, "Slumber will come soon!" Slumber will come soon, and you will help be put to sleep, side by side we do our share faithfully assuring, that slumber will come soon. 26. 911 for Peace - Anti-Flag Eck. I really don't like this song anymore, first off because the intro riff sounds like a total ripoff of the Cranberries "Zombie". Well, that concludes this look into my first CD Mix. I actually have done 7 CDs of it, some worse, some better. Still, I love the songs on this album, and I hope you found a song you could check out too.  |
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