Take Action!

(Sub City)
by Scott Hefflon

A 15-track CD (with two tracks by Fifteen, newly signed to Sub City/Hopeless), benefiting The Foundation Fighting Blindness, with many of the bands on the Take Action tour to support LIFEbeat, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. A great idea: bands that make squat for money donating the scant royalty checks they’ll never see to a good cause. Joining Hopeless Records’ stable of punk bands are a few emo-esque bands and some guest punk bands. While I support the idea and think it’s swell, this is just not an award-winning comp I can recommend whole-heartedly. A few bands shine, like new Hopeless kids Scared of Chaka, the progressively noisy Dillinger Four, the always bratty FYP (courtesy of Recess), the predictably enjoyable Funeral Oration, and the first half of melodic hardcore Kid Dynamite‘s song. Other bands appearing that some people seem to like: the aforementioned Fifteen, The Weakerthans, Against All Authority, Falling Sickness, Algebra One, Heckle, Damnation, and The Rabies. The final track is informational.

(PO Box 7495 Van Nuys, CA 91409)