“If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather,” said British TV presenter and actor Stephen Fry in an increasingly well-regarded quote. “Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”
With that in mind, the new 80 track ‘Hope’ compilation is streaming in full via BandCamp, with all proceeds from the name-your-price download going towards the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The compilation features tracks by the likes of Off With Their Heads, Night Birds, Spraynard, Trophy Lungs, Western Settings, Spoilers and Not Scientists.
“I want people to know that they aren’t alone,” says compilation organiser Lauren Mills, who suffers from Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder. “If you are suffering from depression or any other mental disorder, reach out to someone.”
“The brain is a muscle just like any other muscle in the body. It can get sick. Just because something is mental doesn’t make it any less real or serious. It’s ok to take medicine and to seek help if you need. Life is too valuable to be lived in constant pain,” she continues.
“It’s scary to admit you have a problem but it’s worth it to address it so that you’re not stuck in quicksand and can move forward in your life. You don’t have a crystal ball. You don’t know what life has in store for you. Keep your head up and keep moving forward. This compilation will be released on Mental Health Awareness Day. Links to all the bands are included on the info section of each track.”
“Before choosing a donation amount, please take in consideration that Bandcamp takes out a small portion of the money to host the album on their site,” Mills concludes. “Please go download the record. If you feel inclined, throw cash my way. All tracks with an asterisk placed next to them are previously unreleased songs. Please share it on your zines, social media sites and with your friends if you want.”
TRACKLISTING:
01 Off With Their Heads – Sorrow (Bad Religion) 03:20
02 Night Birds – Blank Eyes 01:48
03 Poor Me – I’m No Superman* 02:27
04 The Penske File – Bedroom Angels 03:00
05 Up For Nothing – Swindled* 02:54
06 Sass Dragons – Downers Grove* 02:35
07 Deforesters – Is This A God Damn?* 03:09
08 Dwayne – I’ma Goin’ To Hell 02:22
09 Midrake – Eternal Jetlag 02:37
10 Break Anchor – I’m Sorry 02:33
11 Decent Criminal – Vacant 03:12
12 Justin Courtney Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack) – Everything That Hurts 04:07
13 Sic Waiting – A Red House and Bones* 03:10
14 Spraynard – Trembling 02:26
15 Antarctigo Vespucci – Hooray For Me 02:29
16 Plow United – These Six Words 02:34
17 Trophy Lungs – Bathroom Graffiti* 02:29
18 Assassinate The Scientist – Lorenzo Never Made It 02:35
19 The Timmys – Life is a Game 02:38
20 The Shell Corporation – Organize the Committee (For Public Safety) 02:56
21 Hit The Switch – An Unreachable Bitter Paradise 01:32
22 Wince – Bottom of the Barrel 03:06
23 Western Settings – Champion Schizo* 02:34
24 Billy Liar – All I’ve Got 03:29
25 Gutterbird – Philly 02:39
26 Triggers – Prairie Resilient 03:57
27 Skinny Genes – Comfortably Dumb 02:15
28 Bet Your Life – Oceans 03:02
29 Grease Thieves – Threw it Away 01:35
30 The Ativans – Jimmy’s Lunchbox 02:45
31 Remnants – Callister Original 01:55
32 Sketchy – Whiskey Nostalgia 02:35
33 Wasted Potential – Sleeveless in Seattle 02:08
34 Open Letters -The Shape Of Complaint Rock To Come 04:02
35 Safety – Ultraviolet Light 04:38
36 Black Dots – Consensual and Wonderful 02:46
37 Bracket – Habit 03:39
38 Sundressed – Dig up a Miracle 02:53
39 The Bruce Lee Band – Occupy The Love 02:30
40 Positive Junk – Autocracy 02:30
41 Jeff Rosenstock – Nausea 02:44
42 Allout Helter – Ruins 01:26
43 Skipjack – Something to Believe In* 02:30
44 Strike Twelve – The Poison 03:26
45 The Decline – I Don’t Believe 02:23
46 Local Resident Failure – Old Skool 01:27
47 Spoilers – All For One 01:43
48 Clowns – Never Enough 03:44
49 PEARS – Terrible 01:33
50 Driven Fear – Yatala Drive In* 03:49
51 Science Made Us Robots – Today 01:54
52 Science Made Us Robots – Headphones 01:14
53 The Burnt Tapes – South to Motherboy* 02:00
54 No Weather Talks – Any City’s Song 02:30
55 Remainders – Slow Quitter 03:38
56 Anchor – Upstream 03:08
57 The Offseason – I’ll Never Leaver 03:10
58 Widows Watch – Blackened Heart 02:40
59 Survay Says – Turn the Page, Wash Your Hands 04:14
60 Stuck Out Here – Pass The Time 01:55
61 One Armed Joey – Timelines 04:02
62 Posers – Nothing 02:10
63 After The Fall – Thomas Philbrick 01:17
64 Stabbed In Back – More Songs About Drinking and Blood 03:49
65 Flirting With Disaster – Anything But Sane 02:54
66 Head Injuries – Famous 03:27
67 Resistors – Wasting Away 02:08
68 Build Them To Break – Part of the Process 03:20
69 Spanish Love Songs – Remainder 04:21
70 Caskitt – Lackluster 03:56
71 Not Scientists – We’re Given No Options 02:59
72 Caffiends – No Gods No Decaf 02:09
73 Shared Arms – Lit-Up Bathtub Mary 04:59
74 Burn Burn Burn – Maps of Brick Walls 01:54
75 Russian Girlfriends – I Prefer Pitbulls to People 02:40
76 Postscript – Right For Me 03:30
77 Castoff – True Wealth 02:23
78 The Brass (OR) – Oblivion 02:28
79 Head Honcho – The Tragedy of Nostalgia 02:56
80 Overseas – Future Plans 03:33