Happy Meals

Volume 2: The Perfect Marriage (My)
by Scott Hefflon

This perfect marriage of punkpop and powerpop lasts 50 minutes, the exact amount of time I’ve been lamenting weekly to my therapist because a comp as good as this didn’t exist. Not really, but it makes a good first sentence. It’s obvious (not only because Marko told me) that My Records spent time with each and every track, helping the bands craft gems of melodic beauty. From the label that brought us Nerf Herder (now on Arista) and Ridel High (now on A&M) as their first two signings, My has a track record that’d make a veteran junkie jealous. While there’re a few songs that may have speedfreak punks nodding off during the mid-tempo melodies, there’s plenty here to make your sweet tooth ache and your head bob. In addition to likable (and previously unreleased) tracks by Nerf Herder, Lagwagon, and The Ataris, there’s “Rich Girl” from Me First & The Gimme Gimmes (who many seem to like), and a “reggae” (actually, it’s just slow and boring) cover of Bracket’s “Lazy Train” by NOFX. Unexpected treats come from Skycycle (on MCA, a band I’m really growing to like) and Ten Speed Summer (a “band” with Parry, Steve, and new guitarist, Dave, from Nerf Herder along with Marko 72 whose credits lists longer than my freelancers’ litany of excuses) doing “Pantera Fans in Love,” a song combining the charm of Mëtal Rüles and their hits “Van Halen” and “Sorry.” This is one of those catchy/dopey songs you put on mixed tapes, chuckle over every time you hear it, and use to impress your friends with how many great bands you know that they don’t. Other bands stating their vows in lush harmonies: Armchair Martian, Ridel High, Saltine, The Living End, Marvel, 22 Jacks, Limp, Silver Jet, Keith Brown, Knee Jerk Reaction, and Chixdiggit.

(PO Box 170280 San Francisco, CA 94117)