In-Flight program collection '97, Various Artists
The cool thing with nearly all punk rock samplers these days is their relative cheapness, and the massive number of tracks you're gonna get for your $5 or £5. IFP is no exception jam-packing the CD with 73 minutes 45 seconds of punk. The good news is that there are a number of quality tracks on here; the bad news is that there are a lot that will have you reaching for that remote.
Opener 'Building', by Sense Field is a short (1:35) but well executed track, setting the scene for the sampler, followed by 'back and to the left' by Texas is the reason; a far longer, more drawn out track which benefits from a break in its punk theme to a kind of upbeat Smashing Pumpkins type middle (trust me it works).
For some reason however Farside's vocals soon begin to annoy me on 'Audience', which is followed by the complete waste of time that is 'Sphinx' by the iceburn collective. 'Fearless' by Shades Apart is a relatively average track, yet is listenable. Whirpool's mixed vocals lend themselves well to their track 'Wasteland', despite being slightly slow, but will obviously appeal to other audiences than, say Ignite.
BodyJar's contribution, 'Glossy books' is, as always, a high quality track from the Australian group; which brings us to Ignite, and 'Embrace'. Now I know several Ignite fans are gonna hunt me down and kill me for this, but the lead's vocals seem to whine and wail way too much; which is a shame because the guitars are excellent, as are the backing vocals.
The now split up No Fun at all add a track which is relatively average and will not have you looking forward to it as you make your way through this disc. Gorilla Buscuits are on fine form with 'New Direction', which is more than can be said for Underdog, State of the Nation and Shelter, whose track 'Enough' is nothing compared to any of the material on album 'Mantra'. End track 'Windshield' by Engine Kid is such a terrible emo song i'd rather stick a cyanide pill under my tongue than listen to it.
All in all, a very mixed bag, and although you're gonna like some if it and hate other parts, there is something here for everyone, but then, that's the problem.
nick
