Search - Various Artists :: Punk Goes 80s

Missing The Boat

veganpunk | Metairie, LA | 06/08/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"We have two options here.



Either I have grown too old and far removed from youth culture to understand what constitutes new "punk" these days, or 14 of the 15 bands who contributed songs to Fearless Record's Punk Goes 80's, the latest installment of their entertaining Punk Goes... series, have really missed the boat here.



God knows that we do not need another argument over what defines "true punk," so I'll do my best to steer clear of that debate. If I can, however, let me just quickly say that just a few years ago the word "punk" was still -more often than not- being used to describe relatively intense music featuring characteristics like aggressive guitar strumming, uptempo drumming, unpolished vocals and raw production. Given that fact, when I dropped $11.99 at one of the registers at the local record store (well these days it's more like the local corporate mega appliance monster mall) for a disc entitled PUNK Goes 80s, I was not expecting to hear what we were given here.



In my opinion, when a modern band takes a classic 80s song and reworks it to include their own special flavor all while keeping the song's basic backbone, it can be a really entertaining affair. I loved the older Vagrant Before You Were Punk records for this reason, and I will never grow tired of my Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies records. But I knew we were in trouble here when the first song on this disc, a cover of The Bangles' Manic Monday performed by Reliant K, started. Long story short, it sounds almost identical to the original. In fact, the same can be said for almost all of the tracks here. Sugarcult's version of I Melt With You, for example, does nothing. And what was Rufio thinking when they submitted their version of Don't You Forget About Me to Fearless? Out of all the bands here I at least expected them to give us an uptempo version of one of the biggest hits of the 80s. Instead, they just plod through the song as if they were playing a wedding reception. Nu emo superstars, Midtown, simply added a techno intro to their standard performance of The Outfield's Your Love. Lame.



To add insult to injury, most of the bands who did choose to rework their song choices to fit their style actually chose to take a more pretentious mellow approach. While it would maybe be interesting to hear The Early November do a really slow totally accoustic version of Huey Lewis' big hit Power Of Love on one of their own records, it's probably not what I or anyone else who would happen to buy this record would expect to find in this setting. The same goes for the Jamison Parker track. Who would have ever thought that it would be possible for a "punk" record to present a version of Everyone Wants To Rule The World that actually sounds whimpier than the Tears For Fears version? Amazing.



Earlier in this review I mentioned that at least one of the 15 bands here got the point of a punk cover album. That band provides the one bright spot on this otherwise forgetable disc. The last track, a cover of the popular song Video Killed The Radio Star performed by Amber Pacific, is the only track on Punk Goes 80s that actually bears some of the "punk" characteristics I mentioned above. It's fast, somewhat raw, maintains the integrity of the original, and provides us with the fun we have come to expect from "punk" covers over the years.



I hate writing negative reviews. I really do. Unfortunately, this disappointing compilation left me with no choice. Punk Goes Pop and Punk Goes Metal were both tons of fun. This one, however, is disposable. Sorry folks.





"

Okay, even if you arent' totally into punk..you'll dig this

Dorrie Wheeler | 07/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, even if you arent' totally into punk or haven't heard of many of the artists on Punk Goes The 80's I guarantee that you will enjoy this CD this summer. How often is it that you purchase a CD and you know the words to all of the songs? The CD opens up with Relient K's version of "Maniac Monday." This is a very good cover of this song. It's followed up by Hidden In Plain View's cover of "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. this is a very good cover of this song. It's awesome. Popular punk act Sugarcult take on "I Melt With You," this is an equally impressive cover. The group Midtown remade "Your Love" which was originally recorded by the outfield. This cover has a techno/computer sound to it in the beginning and then starts to rock out. This is a really good song. Rufio take on "Don't You Forget About Me," the theme song from The Breakfast Club,



Gatbys American Dream decided to remake "Just Like Heaven." this song has been covered so many times even by Dinosaur Jr, it would have been nice if maybe they would have tackled a less covered cure song...They put a nice spin on the song and make it unique. The best remakes on the CD are the ones that are the most similar to the style or melodies of the original song, that being said, The Early November's version of "Power of Love," has none of the power or energy of the original song. It's a slow acoustic song, its pretty, its just not the driving song that the original was. Halifax rock out "Straight Up." This is another song that is nothing like the original. It's a good song though, would be great for a soundtrack.

Brazil remade the classic Oingo Boingo song, "Dead Mans Party," and it's a great song. BRazil took on the Police classic "Wrapped Around Your Finger," another grouat remake/ Jamison Parkers version of Everyone Wants To Rule the world is.....different. It's okay but it lost the magic of the original song. the album closes with Amber Pacific's version of "Video Killed The Radio Star." This is another curious remake. It was just covered by Presidents of the United States for the wedding singer soundtrack in 1998 and that version was much better. This one isn't bad, but ther ewere just so many other songs they could have covered. This is a really great album and everyone should rock out to this album this summer. I hope that Fearless Records produces a part 2.



"

80's kids will appreciate this ..

nikkie | S.L.O | 06/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't have high expectations or am i looking for ''ground breaking''. These bands did fine with these songs and i am happy they picked these songs to cover . Emery pulls through with their stamp (lead singers great screams) , sugarcult did a far better job with their cover than anyother punk revival band has and the early november puts their touch on ''Power Of Love''.



The cd brings some newer bands that are floating around out there ''Amber Pacific , Gatsbys American Dream etc.''



Brazil covered ''Wrapped Around Your Finger'' beautifully.



These punk revival bands show they can keep up and you know you like to sing along to these songs ...



Early 80's kids will understand ...



It's an all around fun cd and i give it 5 stars ."