Punknews.org LogoPunknews.org

Sign In | create an account

 
Staff IconVarious - Mayday! (Cover Artwork)

Various

Mayday! (2002)
Union Label Group

Reviewer Rating:


Contributed by: Adam
(
others by this writer | submit your own
)


Published on January 10th 2003


Mayday Records is the newest label imprint from Montreal’s Union Label Group. Just as Stromp Records has faithfully documented Canadian ska with their “All Skanadian Club” series, Mayday sets out to collect Oi and street punk from across the nation.

Standouts here include The Class Assassins (who should be the most familiar band abroad from this group), Edmonton’s Wednesday Night Heroes, Montreal’s anthemic Ripcordz, the celtic-tinged New Breed and the surprising Buzzcocks-flavor of Emergency. The Prowler’s “Drunken Skinhead” is a silly yet enjoyable play on the classic sea-shanty “Drunken Sailor.” Far more effective is the Angels Saints & Heroes’ cover of folk star Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.” If there was ever a working-class song with an instantly recognizable guitar riff to build on, this is it. It’s an entirely respectable cover that closes the album on a solemn note.

All in all, there aren’t really a lot of weak tracks on here. Street punk is a fairly well defined sound that’s quite easily nailed by most of the bands on the record. That also means you shouldn’t look for a lot of innovation on this comp. The only real problem here is that the jump between production values from track to track is at times rather abrasive. Of course, if you don’t like this style in the first place this album will do nothing to change your mind.

It’s not as patchy as similar compilations have been and provides enough charging rhythms and shout-alongs to keep me singing along to songs I don’t even know. I’m curious as to which of these bands will end up signed with The Union, but this is the start of yet another respectable endeavor from them.



People who liked this also liked:
Angel City Outcasts - Deadrose JunctionTeenage Bottlerocket - TotalBouncing Souls - Hopeless RomanticThe Lillingtons - Death by TelevisionMy Bloody Valentine - LovelessMurder by Death - In Bocca al LupoThe Clash - Sandinista!The Clash - Combat RockThe Clash - Super Black Market ClashThe Clash - From Here to Eternity: Live

Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.
    Anonymous (January 17, 2003)

    Got a new case!!!

    Anonymous (January 13, 2003)

    Ive got a new case of crabs
    - J.C.

    Anonymous (January 13, 2003)

    KY Jelly? Gay sex?

    ROCK!

    Anonymous (January 13, 2003)

    KY?

    Anonymous (January 13, 2003)

    Time to break out the KY

    Features

    Exclusive Streams

    Newest Reviews

    Punknews.org Team

    Managing Editor

    Adam White

    News Editors

    Kira Wisniewski
    Brittany Strummer
    Andrew Waterfield
    Katy Hardy
    Matthew Baldwin
    Armando Olivas
    John Flynn

    Video Editor

    Chris Moran

    Social Media Editor

    Justin August

    Copy Editor

    Amelia Cline

    Reviews Editor

    Joe Pelone

    Interviews Editor

    Richard Verducci

    Publisher

    Aubin Paul

    ISSN 1710-5366



    © Copyright 1999-2012 Punknews.org



    Other Places to Go

    Punknews.org Flickr Pool