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Various

Underground Screams (2003)
Asian Man Records

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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

Published on August 15th 2003

This is almost just too overwhelming to listen to in one sitting. Mike Park, being the amazingly nice guy that he is, put out a compilation CD of the first 26 songs that unsigned bands sent him that struck his fancy. This compilation really shows the diversity of Park's ear, as you have everything from rocksteady ska to nu-new wave to screamy/dancable hardcore and back again. This plays out as more of a really creative mix CD instead of a money-making release [big surprise, considering Asian Man's only charging 4 bucks for it].

Highlights are really all over the place, but I have to give "best song on the comp" awards to former MP3 of the week band Laydig with "...And The Lights Went Out." It's a devastatingly brutal opening song to this disc. Other bright spots include:

Warren Li Young's "Cocaine Ska" reminds me of a more fleshed out Chris Murray, which I like.

Las Cabriolas' "At The Seams" is another rocksteady ska song, and it shines.

The Aloha-esque sounds [with Morrissey-esque vocals] of Scout You Devil is rather promising, and I want to hear more.

James Leste's blatant ripping off of the Smoking Popes with "Sleepless Nights" should make me scold them, but instead I praise them for really capturing that sappy pop punk sound.

Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine delivers a really fun emotional punk song in less than two minutes. Good work.

Dead Letter Dept. would be the perfect tourmates for Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine. That should tell you what they sound like.

Resident Weirdo's "You Crew" sounds like latter-day Dag Nasty [with Dave Smalley singing], but better.

Like I said before, the beauty of this album lies in it's incredible diversity. Yeah, there's songs I don't like on here, but there's none that I absolutely loathe or anything. Frankly, there's something for everyone, and for 4 bucks, you're bound to find at least one band you'll enjoy. And since [at press time] all 26 bands were unsigned, this is a perfect way to earn some scene points with the "I knew about them *before* they were signed* line.

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Anonymous (August 21, 2003)

This score is for Dead Letter Dept.'s track, hands down the best one on the album. Where can I get more of their stuff? Anyone know?

xmolemanx (August 18, 2003)

I really like this CD, I bought it from the Ready Steady Go! two of whom are friends of mine.

The laydig song is really good. The only lowlight I can think of is that "two syllables" song, it's just bad.

Anonymous (August 17, 2003)

Yeh I like Asian Men. Oh wait, I mean, Asian MAN. Whoops. There is only one Asian Man for me.

komsomida (August 16, 2003)

Mail order is so much fun.

komsomida (August 16, 2003)

Wow great cd for 4 bucks, but then again pretty much everything from Asian Man records is awesome.

Anonymous (August 16, 2003)

Wow I reviewed this too (elsewhere) and was impressed with the amount of diversity, but we definitely picked different "highlights"!

BEST:
Cast Of Thousands "Murder in the Dark"
The Arcade Version "Now or Never"
Laydig "...And Then the Lights Went Out"
Critics "Landslide Defeat"
Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution "Here's to Life" - gotta love the references to the great literary minds and artists on this one!

Anonymous (August 16, 2003)

I wish Mike Park could get Skankin' Pickle back together for a reunion tour...ah, it's nice here in Dreamland.

Anonymous (August 16, 2003)

get to know charlie brown gets a valentine. i heard a couple of MP3s of them and they were pretty good. it has that old sing along poppiness going for it.

Ramo
(not very good describing music)

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

at the alkaline trio haloween show at the metro mike park was the one handing out the free 7" to everyone and he told me to stay warm because i didnt have a jacket on. he is one nice guy. and bandits of the acoustic revolution are a great band. i will probably pick up this cd.

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

i don't see how anyone could not love asian man

fallingtopieces (August 15, 2003)

i really dug the "bandits of the acoustic revolution" song and yes ASIAN MAN RECORDS IS THE "SHIT" FO SHHEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZAAAAAAAYYYY

Anonymous (August 15, 2003)

Asian Man is not the shit. Dead Letter Department truly is the shit.

skankin_in_the_pit (August 15, 2003)

Asian Man has always been the shit.

funkisdead (August 15, 2003)

asian man is officially the shit.