Search - Faction :: Collection

Back in the day when punk was still punk...

B-Movie Nightmares | Sparks, NV United States | 09/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great, almost complete collection of San Jose's skate rock/punk masters The Faction. I don't think this band really got the credit they deserved, since all you really heard about them was the fact Steve Caballero was in the group. The quality of their recorded output was pretty consistent, as anyone would agree who buys this CD.



I would describe the Faction's sound as being pretty similar to SoCal punks like D.I., T.S.O.L. ("Dance With Me" era) and the Adolescents. If you like those bands, you'll enjoy the melodic guitar and snotty lead vocals that this CD has to offer. Besides the moody, mid-tempo "Dark Room," the song I remember most fondly is "Let's Go Get Cokes," with the chorus "lets/go get cokes/anything else/will make me choke." Listening to it now makes me wonder if it was a response to Suicidal Tendencies' obsession with Pepsi!



A couple covers on here also, "California Dreamin" originally done by Mamas & the Papas and Generation X's "Your Generation." The CD's inner sleeve also features what looks to be a complete listing by date of all the Faction's gigs. Older punk fans like myself will drool as such lineups as "Tales of Terror/Ill Repute/Faction/Agression/JFA/Big Boys" (skate-rock heaven) and "Corrosion of Conformity/Faction/DRI" (get in the pit!!)



So if you dislike the new, mall-friendly version of what has come to be known as "punk" nowadays, pick up this CD for a nice blast from the past."

Almost 5 stars

Craig J. Calhoun | Chicago | 09/25/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I would have given this compilation 5 stars if it had included the songs "Terror in the Streets" and my personal favorite Faction song "You Are Here" from the "Dark Room" ep (the other 4 songs on the ep are on this comp.). That stated, if you like skate punk, this cd is a MUST."

It will be awhile till we see something this good again!

Luke | Tempe, AZ | 12/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Today's punk can be found by turning your t.v. on an switching to MTV or VH1, but can punk really be broadcast primetime by popular television? Back in the late 80's when I was 12 years old the closest thing to punk on t.v. was Headbanger's Ball, which was merely heavymetal...HA!..and it aired very late! Then came the real deal with Bombshelter videos which only aired at midnight once a week.



Don't get me wrong, it would be great if Mega-Media stations like MTV and VH1 aired punk videos, but get real! To this day you only have watered down, fully cooked, pop-hybrid cheese bands like Good Charlotte, Blink-182, and Sum-41 - and there is little doubt that things are not going to change for the better anytime soon.



However, we can all thank The Faction for their raw, hardcore, and downright pure American punk rock sound. Only buy this album if you want to hear what true I don't give a F**k skate punk sounds like!

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