Review Summary: A good compilation with some great songs on it. Don't be afraid to buy it because it's called 'Rock Against Bush Vol. 2'; it has some great music on it.
As many of you may know, several Democratic punks are in something called 'Punk Voter' started by NOFX frontman Fat Mike. To oppose him, Fat Wreck Chords released two volumes titled 'Rock Against Bush Vol. 1' and 'Rock Against Bush Vol. 2', respectively. These were created to encourage people to join Punk Voter.
This compilation contains some solid music by some great bands including No Use for a Name, The Lawrence Arms, Lagwagon, and more. Although I don't really care about the politics involved, the music is quite good.
The album contains 28 tracks, 20 of them previously unreleased or rare. It also has a bonus DVD with music videos, political shorts and more. All in all, this is a pretty good album for a pretty good price.
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Favorite Son by Green Day
9/10
Now, I want to tell you that I'm not the biggest Green Day fan, but this is one of (if not the) best song by them I've ever heard. The guitar riff is great and the song is very catchy and it doesn't sound very pop/punk-ish. The drumming in this song is pretty good and the short breakdown at about 1:35 is pretty good. A great song.
Let Them Eat War by Bad Religion
8.5/10
A solid song with a good beat and a cool bass line in the intro. The vocals in this song are pretty good and the drumming in the chorus and section after the chorus and before the verse, especially, is great. Another good song from this album.
Unity by Operation Ivy
8/10
A good song that sounds like traditional Operation Ivy. The vocals sound pretty good in this song. Good drumming here as well.
Necrotism: Decanting The Insalubrious (Cyborg Midnight) Part 7 by The Lawrence Arms
9/10
A great song. I'm a big fan of The Lawrence Arms and this is a great song by them. The vocals are cool and the bass is great in this song. The title is quite long but it's still a great song. Sounds very well-produced.
We Got The Power by Dropkick Murphys
9/10
A really good song. Very cool beat and sounds a little bit like Flogging Molly meets The Unseen. A great guitar solo near the end of the song. A really cool beat and the song is great overall; one of the best on the album.
Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly
8/10
Ha, this song is good but if you listen to it to much you'll probably get sick of it really fast! Itls just one of those songs. Flogging Molly is an Irish Punk band so this sounds very Irish-influenced, what with the acordian and fiddles and such. Good song, but again, only listen to it when you feel like it.
Doomsday Breach by Only Crime
9/10
A great song; very punk-ish. Solid beat, and overall it's a really cool song.
Gas Chamber by Foo Fighters
8/10
Really short song, serves as sort of an interlude on the album, but it's good nonetheless. A solid beat and the guitars sound really good here. The singer sounds really good, and same with the drumming... so everything sounds good here!
Status Pools by Lagwagon
9/10
Great drum intro which leads into one of the best song's on the album. A really cool song and Joey's voice sounds great in this song. Guitar work is great here too. Overall a must-listen.
What You Say by Sugarcult
9/10
Another great song; Sugarcult isn't my favourite band ever but this is actually one of their best songs. A great beat and a good guitar riif through the song. The singer sounds pretty good here and the snare drum with the guitar whine is great as an interlude throughout the song.
7 Years Down by Rancid
8/10
A pretty good song. Not the best on the album, but it has a great bass line throughout it. Tim Armstrong sounds pretty good here. A good punk song.
Off With Your Head by Sleater-Kinney
7.5/10
Not a bad song, but I agree with Fat Mike that punk generally sounds better with a male singing though. However, there are some great female punk singers, like The Distillers vocalist. This song sounds light-hearted (not that that's a bad thing). It has a great bass/guitar riff in it, though.
Scream Out by The Unseen
9/10
A great song. Cool intro and guitar riff in the intro. Good drumming in this song and this sounds quite punk-ish. One of the best songs on the album.
Violins by Yellowcard
8/10
It's very hard for me to give this and overall score because I like that Yellowcard has a violin in their band, but they completely changed the original Lagwagon version of this song (which this song is a cover of). They made it sound much more light-hearted and pop-ish. Not that this version is a bad song, though. Cool choruses too.
Like Sprewells On A Wheelchair by Dillinger Four
9/10
Interesting introduction leads into a great song. Great bass and drumming and guitar in this song. Really cool, the singer sounds very unique in this song too.
Chesterfield King (Live) by Jawbreaker
7.5/10
Not really that good. Not bad, though. This song could've been better though. The singer sounds very exasperated in this song (it's lvie though, so maybe that's why), not that that's a bad thing though. The beginning is weird.
Born Free (Live) by Bouncing Souls
9/10
A much better introduction than int he last song. A great song live and not live. Good lyrics in this song, although I've said before I don't really care about the politics on this album, I just like the music.
No Hope (Live) by Mad Caddies
9/10
Ha ha, a great song! Sounds Irish/British and very light-hearted. The singer and instruments are great here and the choruses sound pretty punk. You can almost here the audience having a great time here.
Kids Today by Dwarves
8/10
An odd song. I don't really know what I think about this song... it's sort of weird. The drumming is good in this song and this song sounds very energetic in certain parts.
Can't Wait To Quit by Sick Of It All
8.5/10
Sounds almost like Rise Against at the beginning. A great beat leads into a pretty good song. This almost qualifies as metal, but it is punk because of the beats and the bass line that comes in at about 0:38-0:40 with nothing else. Great bass in this song!
Comforting Lie by No Doubt
7/10
Probably the most pop-ish song on the album, because it's by a pop/rock band! Gwen Stefani sounds interesting here and sort of soulful. The drumming and guitar and bas in this song are good.
State of Fear by Useless I.D.
9/10
A great song. Great beat in the verses. Drumming is great in this song and the vocals and guitars sound good here. One of the best on the album.
I'm Thinking by Autopilot Off
9/10
Good song. Great bass in this song and the singer sounds good here. Good choruses and verses. Sort of catchy.
My Star by The (International) Noise Conspiracy
8/10
Great drumming introduction. The song isn't bad but definately isn't the best on the album. Good bass in this song. The vocals sound pretty good in this song at the beginning of the choruses. The song is when it picks up, and in the verses.
Time's Up by Donots
5.5/10
I don't much care for this song. Good beat in the verses. Not a bad song, just not that good. Good guitar in the choruses.
Kill The Night by Hot Water Music
8.5/10
Good song. Good guitar in this song and the singer sounds good here. Cool bass too, and the drumming is good here too. Overall, a good song, you should listen to this song.
You're Gonna Die by Thought Riot
8.5/10
Great drum beat in the verses. The singer sounds pretty good here. A good punk song. Sounds like a good song to be in the mosh pit for, because it seems almost like it was custom designed for moshing too.
Fields of Agony (Acoustic) by No Use for a Name
9/10
A great acoustic song. I'm a big fan of Tony Sly's voice and this song is pretty good. The guitar is good in this song. The end with George W. Bush speaking is interesting and fiitng for an album entitled, 'Rock Against Bush Vol. 2'
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Recommended Tracks:
Favorite Son by Green Day
Let Them Eat War by Bad Religion
Necrotism: Decanting The Insalubrious (Cyborg Midnight) Part 7 by The Lawrence Arms
We Got the Power by Dropkick Murphys
Doomsday Breach by Only Crime
Status Pools by Lagwagon
Scream Out by The Unseen
Like Sprewells On A Wheelchair by Dillinger Four
No Hope (Live) by Mad Caddies
State of Fear by Useless I.D.
If You Have a Little More Time On Your Hands, Listen To:
Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly
Gas Chamber by Foo Fighters
What You Say by Sugarcult
Violins by Yellowcard
Born Free (Live) by Bouncing Souls
I'm Thinking by Autopilot Off
Kill The Night by Hot Water Music
Fields of Agony (Acoustic) by No Use for a Name
4/5
