Atticus Dragging The Lake 2, Various Artists
Compilations are most excellent things as I'm sure both Bill and Ted would have said if they were actually real. Last years Atticus comp was probably only second to the Warped franchise, that is how good it was, and arguably this year's take on proceedings is even better. With the usual mixed of old and new material, and with a wider range of styles than normal, there is literally something for everyone.
Of course that something isn't always brilliant, but then very rarely do you get a comp that is absolutely perfect. Atticus II is quite possibly the closest we have got this year to perfection. With unreleased stuff from Finch, Alkaline Trio, Blink 182, Slick Shoes and H2O, it's obvious from the start that this release is going to be a worthy listen. Add in some punk heavyweights like Hot Water Music, Lagwagon and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and you have mass appeal.
The good tracks, and there are plenty of them, are often very good indeed. Hot Water Music thrash through 'Remedy' with gleeful abandon, while both Thrice and Finch prove why they are rated so highly by so many. The Incubus-inspired 'Worms Of The Earth' shows that the new Finch material may well be even more like Faith No More than the tracks they've already aired. Lagwagon's 'E. Dagger' is a skate-punk anthem in waiting, while this years sleeper hit band Further Seems Forever' raise the bar further with the fantastic 'Pride War', taken from their awesome 'How To Start A Fire' opus. Taking Back Sunday and Rise Against start a very strong ending, which is backed up by the fantastic 'The Greatest Fall' by Matchbook Romance and 'Misled' by Hot Rod Circuit. But the raw power of Dan Andriano is full flow is the perfect way to end things, with the dark and twisted 'Crawl' proving why Alkaline Trio are so highly rated.
Of course there's the proverbial filler to go along with your killer and for me Rocket From The Crypt and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones continue to flatter to deceive. The unreleased Blink 182 track 'Don't Tell Me That It's Over' is no more than average fare, while side-projects Box Car Racer and The Transplants put forward a couple of their weaker tracks. I've never been keen on The Dropkick Murphy's either, but then I suppose variety is the spice of life and Side One Dummy should be given a well deserved pat on the back for creating such a varied record.
Atticus II isn't perfect but it acts as a perfect foil for getting into a few new bands. I went out and hunted down some more Matchbook Romance stuff after hearing 'The Greatest Fall' and surely that is the hallmark of a good comp. Not just a whizz in the t-shirt stakes, Atticus have come up with a cd that really should find a home in the collection of anyone who likes mainstream US punk.
www.atticusclothing.com
Paul
