Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 06/25/2002
The roster at
Hopeless Records grows more impressive and varied with each sampler in this series, and
Vol. 4 is probably the best yet. Several of the bands here are a bit heavier-sounding and more hardcore than on past
Hopeless samplers.
Against All Authority -- a generally average, political,
ska-punk band -- has one of their best songs in the previously unreleased
"Out a Luck." There's a groovy
emo song from
Samiam,
"Look No Hang"; a catchy
pop-punk tune from
Digger,
"The Ninja, the Pinto, the Dan Marino"; a very fun, spastic romp from
Selby Tigers,
"Cheerleading Is Big Business"; and a couple of unusual,
karaoke-sounding numbers from
Atom & His Package. Surprisingly, two of the lesser efforts are from a couple of acts featuring members of once pivotal bands from the celebrated East Bay
punk scene.
Jesse Michaels, the singer and songwriter behind
Operation Ivy, has not lived up to his legacy with his less-than-thrilling
Common Rider, represented here by the ho-hum
"Small Pebble." Common Rider sounds like very watered-down
Operation Ivy with practically all the inspiration drained from them. And
Jeff Ott, who sang for the once-brilliant
Crimpshrine, offers up the cornball, PC, acoustic tune
"Who's Your Daddy," which is a rotten song whether one agrees with the sentiments of the lyrics or not. But these two misfires are exceptions amongst an entirely solid lineup of
punk rock.
~Adam Bregman, All Music Guide
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