Recovery Through Positivity - BFF Records, Various Artists
You know how on most of those high-profile American compilations there’s a couple of good tracks by the well established bands, maybe a b-side or a new track, and the rest of the tracks are lame? Well this compilation put out by the relatively new label Best Foot Forward should be held as an example as how to put out a great compilation. The best part of the disc is the range of bands, from Hot Water Music to the frantic Friends of Ed to the ska machinations of No Comply and Evil Macaroni.
I’ll get the bad news out of the way first. Opening tracks by Desa and The Leftbehinds don’t really take flight, and instead stay more as an acquired taste (that I obviously haven’t got). The Twofold track doesn’t showcase just how powerful they are, and while this may be sacrilege, My Awesome Compilation’s offering seems somewhat mundane. But hey, out of 26 tracks that’s not bad.
The better-known bands like Vanilla Pod, Phinius Gage and Captain Everything all demonstrate why they’re at the forefront of a burgeoning punk rock scene, contributing fastpaced and catchy songs that move with the speed and intelligence of Roadrunner (the cartoon animal, not that fucking label), while HWM’s ‘Turnstile’ is a slab of abrasiveness that fits in nicely with the more lo-fi bands on the compilation. This was my first exposure to Friends of Ed, and their sound is almost like Zeke at times, with the frenetic pace of the track and shouting chorus all fitting in superbly. Jets vs Sharks have created a sizeable buzz for themselves and on the evidence of the schizophrenic ‘Crude Intentions’ they’re an extremely interesting band that I’d really like to hear more of.
A very wide range of ska is represented too, from Link 80 to Ye Wiles via Evil Macaroni and No Comply. As the inlay says, “there’s something for everyone so you’ll probably like it” and with an attitude like that you simply cannot go wrong. Instead of a collection of similar indentikit songs you get loads of variety and a fair few bands you’ve heard of, if not actually heard. And that’s a good thing. I’d recommend this CD to pretty much anyone because of the wide range of musical styles, as well as the fact that the vast majority of bands and songs are fantastic. Maybe this is the way forward – sod genre, just music? We can but hope.
Ben
