Reviews

We all know what a serious thing suicide is, especially in our own punk community. Every one of us has probably had our lives touched by a suicide at least once. I know I have.  So when a group of musicians this large and diverse get together for one cause and allow Sub-City to create this compilation, it's a true event. There is nothing "punk" or "scene" about suicide, and this album does everything in its power to prove that, while being a hell of a good time listening wise. Andrew WK makes an extra special public service announcement to kick off this extravaganza, an NOFX brings us into the music with "Concerns of A GOP Neo-Phyte."  It's a two-disc set, and the first disc is primarily punk and hardcore while the second one is more on the emo/emocore/indie side. It's not really necessary to go through each track because well, they're not all great. Some favorites on the first disc include "The Wolves are At The Front Door" by The Break, "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath and "Famous Friends and Fashion Drunks" by one of this years' breakthrough bands, A Wilhelm Scream. Disc two, I liked a lot less, but I tried to put the headache brought about by Coheed and Cambria aside so that I could enjoy songs like "Little Birds and Sparrows" by Brandston, "And So It Goes" by the fabulous Brazil and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists."  I must say, that this is one of the better compilations I've heard yet. It's got a great message and some stellar bands. In fact, had I wanted to sit down and spend a good hour making a mix CD on this semi-outdated computer, I'd probably want to put half these songs on it. How convenient that now, here comes a compilation that saves me from abusing my hard drive! To wrap this up, I'll include some of the statistics I learned on the inside cover: Every 17 minutes at least six Americans lose a loved on to suicide, for a total loss of life to suicide of more than 30,000 people each year. Seriously guys, not to preach or anything, but if you can't deal with your problems, let someone help you...call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-suicide). Peace.