Another Year On The Streets Volume 1, Various Artists
Yep, it's that time of year again folks, time for another Vagrant Records sampler. And like nearly everything that the label does, it's pretty darn sweet.
Vagrant's samplers are generally good one's, mixing the unreleased with the rare and there's always the odd album track thrown in for good measure. There's also something for everyone, from the acoustic murmurings of Dashboard Confessional to the gritty pop-punk of Alkaline Trio.
Hot Rod Circuit kick things off in fine fashion with 'The Pharmacist', a fine singalong song that chugs along at a fair pace. Audio Learning Center follow up with the fantastic 'Favorite Band', which passes some resemblence to the classic 'Behind The Music' by the Vandals, although at a far slower pace. Saves The Day are rapidly becoming flavour of the month, and depending on how you rate Chris Conley's style, the previously unreleased 'Ups and Downs' is either a further example of how great the band are, or how bad they've become. Personally I think Saves The Day are now an amazing band that have grown into something really special, and this track is further proof that they are on the verge of greatness.
Dashboard Confessional are another band on the up, and Chris Carrabba is certainly an incredible singer/songwriter. But you'll either love his stripped-down ramblings or hate it, and although I'm certainly a big fan, I can see why people might not share the same opinion. Ditto The New Amsterdams, another of this rising emo scene, who are again an acquired taste. I believe anything Matt Pryor does turns to gold, and 'Picture In The Paper' is no different. The Anniversary also turn in the poptastic 'Sweet Marie' which even has a cool paino riff floating around.
Hey Mercedes blast through the cool 'Weekend Starts On Wednesday' and Alkaline Trio are as great as always with 'Hell Yes'. Eight tracks so far, eight classics. I'm not a big Face To Face fan, and so 'Bill Of Goods' is the first real let down, not that bad a track, just nothing pant-wettingly special. So the superb No Motiv get us back on track with 'Give Me Strength' before the amazing 'Central Standard Time' by The Get Up Kids. The best band in the world? I think so...
Rocket From The Crypt provide us with duffer number two, with 'Alone' being nothing more than average. Viva Death I swear chant "punktastic" during the chorus, although I'm probably blighted having to work for it every day... And then we are back to the start again, with Hot Road Circuit weighing in with 'Radiation Suit', which is ok but not brilliant. Audio Learning Center show they are anything but a one-trick pony with the great 'The Shell', which sounds a little like Radiohead. Hey Mercedes then rock things up a little more with the superb 'Everybody's Working For The Weak' which really stands out, even on a compilation as good as this.
Dashboard Confessional give us some more warblings with the brilliant 'Screaming Infidelities' and then Saves The Day provide 'Nightengale' from their 'Stay What You Are' cd. It's a good track, but certainly not the best off that record. No Motiv add 'New Beginnings' which is quickly followed by another average Face To Face song. Ending with a blast of the magnificent 'Metro' by Alkaline Trio and 'New Found Mass 2000' by The Get Up Kids, the sampler ends on a very high note.
This is one of the best samplers that I've come across in a long time and anyone who likes any of the bands featured here will most probably enjoy it.
Paul Savage
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