Rock Against Bush Vol.2 [ECD] - Various Artists

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money

Advantages:	Better selection of bands
Disadvantages:	Still a few oddities

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Well priced and with more effort... will this album finally tip the scales of power away from George W. Bush...only time will tell!

The Review

Finally sounding more like a properly collated punk album, the Rock Against Bush compilation series returns with its second instalment. More refined and two tracks longer than before, 'Rock Against Bush Vol.2' is better value and may well have even greater impact than its predecessor which made number 54 on the American Billboard chart.

Once again the majority of the tracks are unreleased or rare, making the album essential listening to fans of any one of the bands included this time round. 3 live tracks, oddly positioned in the middle rather than at the end of the CD, compliment a good range of artists, styles and messages intended once again to increase awareness of the website Punkvoter.com, remove President Bush from power, without that anarchy this scene was originally founded on, and, by doing so, better the world’s perception of the American people (still best indicated by 'What Is Wrong With The Americans' off German punk band Terrorgruppe’s '1 World 0 Future'album).

A noticeable inclusion is No Doubt’s 'Comforting Lie', one of the better tracks on the band’s third album 'Return of Saturn' and a good break from the punk within 'Rock Against Bush Vol.2 'and more notably the hardcore of Sick Of It All that it immediately follows. Multi-platinum selling Green Day also make an appearance with 'Favorite Son', a seemingly new track that lacks none of the band’s joie de vivre and sways little from the sound that we have come to recognise from them of late.

Along with the brilliant Lawrence Arms’' Necrotism', which has all the usual verve of the Chicago trio, 'Doomsday Breach' off Only Crimes’ excellent debut 'To The Nines 'and the Mad Caddies’ live presentation of 'No Hope','the remaining songs on 'Rock against Bush Vol. 2' help form an album that will not only play its part in entertaining and enlightening today’s listeners but may continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Compilation albums can often suffer from too much variety but 'Rock Against Bush Vol.2' has gone against the norm, blending the Irish influenced music of Flogging Molly, the pop-punk emo of Yellowcard and the ska of the legendary Operation Ivy perfectly, culminating in a well devised record. Useless ID’s 'State Of Fear' also changes the tempo, with its short but well-situated guitar solo, fast-paced drumbeats and guitaring, re-kindling the punk-side of this album after a short departure.

The DVD attached is well worth the inclusion. Containing 5 music videos (Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Bad Religion, Flogging Molly and Thought Riot), a number of political shorts intended to educate the viewer on the events of the last Presidential election and the media, as well as 3 comedy sketches by some of America’s leading comics including Will Ferrell, it adds worth to an album of great persuasion and thought.

As with many compilation albums 'Rock Against Bush Vol.2' is in no way unflawed. The Foo Fighters’ inclusion has to rank as one of their worst songs and Rancid’s '7 Years Down' leaves a little to be desired. This time round, however, the good more than convincingly outweighs the bad, making 'Rock Against Bush Vol.2' a definite recommendation, enjoyable and, above all, a learning experience.

Track Listing

1. Favorite Son - Green Day (8/10)
2. Let Them Eat War - Bad Religion (6/10)
3. Unity - Operation Ivy (7/10)
4. Necrotism: Decanting the Insalubrious Cyborg Midnight), Pt. 7 - Lawrence Arms (9/10)
5. We Got the Power - Dropkick Murphys (6/10)
6. Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly (9/10)
7. Doomsday Breach - Only Crime (9/10)
8. Gas Chamber - Foo Fighters (1/10)
9. Status Pools - Lagwagon (4/10)
10. What You Say - Sugarcult (7/10)
11. 7 Years Down - Rancid (5/10)
12. Off With Your Head - Sleater-Kinney (6/10)
13. Scream Out - Unseen (6/10)
14. Violins - Yellowcard (7/10)
15. Like Sprewells on a Wheelchair - Dillinger Four (7/10)
16. Chesterfield King [Live] - Jawbreaker (7/10)
17. Born Free [Live] - Bouncing Souls (8/10)
18. No Hope [Live] - The Mad Caddies (9/10)
19. Kids Today - The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) (6/10)
20. Can't Wait to Quit - Sick of It All (7/10)
21. Comforting Lie - No Doubt (8/10)
22. State of Fear - Useless ID (8/10)
23. I'm Thinking - Autopilot Off (7/10)
24. My Star - The (International) Noise Conspiracy (7/10)
25. Time's Up - Donots (5/10)
26. Kill the Night - Hot Water Music (7/10)
27. You're Gonna Die - Thought Riot (6/10)
28. Fields of Agony [Acoustic] - No Use for a Name (7/10)

The cover and booklet are much the same as the first album. The front cover is identical apart from the background colour change from green to orange. The booklet contains a further 20 reasons to hate Bush Jnr., if the first edition hadn't sufficed in its 40 reasons. There are a number of quotes showing disgust towards Bush Jnr., from influential figures in politics, including the Prime Ministers of Poland, Canada and Spain, adding further weight to the 'Removal' argument. I am sure these comments were extracted from longer quotes in order to satisfy the CD maker's aims: probably in the same vein as political spin one may add.

There are also a range of lyrics to the songs, statements by bands as well as information on the whole Punkvoter organisation installed to persuade punk followers to vote against Bush.

Price - Amazon.co.uk - £7.99
Released 9th August 2004 on Fat Wreck Chords
Catalogue Number - FAT677CD
Number of Discs - 2 (1CD, 1 DVD)