With the release of Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 in April, NOFX's Fat Mike successfully made the punk compilation matter again. Numerous punk compilations get released every year, perhaps the best known one being the annual Warped Tour 2 disc package (which debuted in the top 50 this year thanks to a extra low retail price). But for the most part, punk compilations are another way for independent labels to wring some cash out of bands that have no business wringing cash at all.

So while Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 wasn't perfect by any means, the cause was commendable (though one wonders how many young fans just follow what these bands say without bothering to find out anything on their own), and it was, for the most part at least, enjoyable. So it seemed that Rock Against Bush Vol. 2 would be poised to re-create that success, especially with some of the bands that had been lined up: Green Day, Foo Fighters, and Rancid, among others.

I guess the thing that stands out the most about this CD is Operation Ivy's track Unity. I have no problem with this song, and, in fact, it's one of the few songs on here that resonates at all with me. But for those of you who don't know who Operation Ivy are, let's just say they haven't been a band for about 15 years now. Two of their members went on to form Rancid. The fact that a 15 year old song says more than 90% of the other songs on here should tell you an awful lot about the quality of this CD.

Green Day contributes Favorite Son, which doesn't have as much of a political backbone as that title may make you think, but it is a solid track nonetheless, and I especially like the bassline laid down by Mike Dirnt and the melodic solo from Billie Joe Armstrong. This is immediately followed by Bad Religion, a band I've never gotten much into at all. Let Them Eat War has some creative lyrics (as well as some cliches), but it crackles with energy and a decent pop punk hook that permeates the verses.

Other than that though, the well known bands on this compilation are a mixed bag. Flogging Molly is nothing more than a one trick pony to me, and Drunken Lullabies is one of the better examples of that. The Dropkick Murphys represent the working man (what else would they represent?) with We Got the Power, but this song comes off as a half assed effort from them.

The Foo Fighters get angry on Gas Chamber, replete with lo-fi production values. After numerous listens, I'm still not sure what I think of this song. Rancid's contribution, 7 Years Down, is every bit the mixed bag their career has been after the success of ...And Out Come the Wolves. There are parts of the song I like, others I hate.

The abundance of crap on this record is nothing write home about either. Sleater-Kinney did absolutely nothing for me when I saw them open for Pearl Jam last year, and they still do nothing for me (I can only hope neither of them gets the chance to butcher Hunger Strike ever again). I saw The Unseen a couple years back as well, and the best thing I can say for Scream Out is that it doesn't suck. At the very least, it's got some sort of structure, something I couldn't say two years ago for any of their songs.

In terms of bands on here mainly to sell records, that's where we find Yellowcard, who, big surprise, have a song that has nothing to do with politics. And I understand that at one point, No Doubt was a very respected band in the ska/punk community, but Comforting Lie is a noisy mess of a song that is just grating.

It's also good to see that Sick of It All is still playing the same music to every one of their songs six years after I stopped caring about them.

The best surprises happen to be Sugarcult, who manages to find a bit more of an edge for their track What You Say, and the live performance by the Mad Caddies, who offer something up besides generic angry punk rock.

The bonus DVD that comes with this set is deeper than the one that came with Vol.1, even if some material is repeated. The comedy bits, featuring the talents of Will Ferrell, Greg Proops and others, are solid. The documentary teasers, which account for the repeated material, are all interesting, if at times a bit misguided. There's also music videos from the likes of NOFX, Alkaline Trio, and Bad Religion.

Ultimately, what Rock Against Bush Vol.2 makes one wonder is why there was ever a need for a Vol.2. Had they taken the good-excellent tracks from this and replaced the bad tracks on Volume 1, as well as combining the DVD's into one excellent DVD, and sold it for $12, they would have been much better off. Instead, they sold each set separately, and its the fans who lose.

2.5 stars, rounded down to 2.

Related review:
Rock Against Bush Vol. 1

Of Further Election Year Interest:
Outfoxed
Unfit for Command
Fahrenheit 9/11



Recommended: No