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
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."
sounds like very watered-down
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