Ampwire UK - Music To Scream To, Various Artists
With a name like 'Music To Scream To' this screams, ahem, of an emo compilation. And to be fair to Ampwire, this is exactly what it is. UK bands doing variations on the emo theme, which is all well and good if you're a fan of that kind of thing. Sadly there are some tracks here (and bands for that amtter) who are so incredibly dull and generic I'd rather nod off than listen further. The main problem is that in very few cases are the bands trying to be original and challenging. I think that's an issue with the genre as a whole now, and when someone comes along and shakes things up, bands are applauded and fans take note. But if you're not going to be massively original, then at least do things well.
I don't have to say too much about the likes of My Awesome Compilation and Shouting Myke, two bands who stand out by an absolute mile, because they are well known to Punktastic readers. Sadly these two are head and shoulders - and then some - above everyone else. Days In December and The Attika State both impress without making me go weak at the knees, but from there there's little to scream about. Adzuki and Orca sound like they have followed the genre rulebook, and while neither track is particularly bad, there's nothing to encourage me to find more. Kneehigh, Opium and Fireburns Children are rubbish too, although Cooper Brown and Driving On The Right show moments of promise.
I know I've pretty much hacked this to death, but Ampwire should be appluaded for at least having a go at bringing music they support to the ears of music fans across the country. If you listen to this it's probably because you like that genre of music in the first place, and if you do then there is probably little chance you will agree with what I have said. There are some good moments on here, but the bands I previously had not heard of was probably because they're not that good. A must if you like emo, a must not if you don't. Simple as that.
www.ampwireuk.com
Paul
