Warped Tour 2005, Various Artists
This is a fantastic little CD. 50 songs, spread over two CDs and with a RRP of just $7, it wins all prizes for best value compilation of the year. Not just that, but with contributions from a stack of well-known bands, all weighing in with cracking efforts, it's great value all round. The compilation is now in its seventh year, although this is quite possibly the best line-up yet. Unsurprisingly, it showcases the bands that are set to appear on the tour of the same name, which criss-crosses a number of US states every summer. What started off as a small punk rock fair is now a full-on summer camp, with so many bands - many of different styles - and a stack of stages.
The 2005 version showcases everything from Atreyu and Bleeding Through to the poptastic The Academy Is... and Fallout Boy. Throw in Gogol Bordello and the likes of Gym Class heroes and practically every genre under the 'punk'-circa 2005 umbrella is included. And among that umbrella, there are plenty of tracks which sparkle. True, you may already own some of them, or possibly heard of them before, but in the vast majority of cases they are stand out tracks. There are too many to mention, but if a compilation of this many songs has more than 50% good songs - and you're paying less than a fiver -you know you're getting a good deal. This isn't so much a good deal, as a great one. If we handed out awards for the year's best compilations, this would almost certainly win, hand's down.
www.sideonedummy.com
Paul
