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Mike Park

For The Love Of Music
2003
Asian Man

Mike Park - For The Love Of Music (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Scott
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Asian Man Records (Logo)

Published on November 14th 2003

On the front of for The Love Of Music, there is a small red sticker that says "Debut solo acoustic CD. Songs about politics, racism, and everyday life."

Sweet, the sticker more or less just wrote my review for me. All I need to do is throw in a couple adjectives about just how great these songs about politics, racism, and everyday life are, and we're good to go.

But I suppose I should expound slightly more, so here goes - Mike Park is a punk rock philanthropist; running a successful indie label out of his parents' garage while founding the Plea For Peace Foundation and subsequent tour package to help raise money for the charity. As a side note, a portion of proceeds of sales of this CD will also go to the Plea For Peace Foundation, courtesy of Sub City.

Park's career has taken him every which way, through Skankin' Pickle and the B. Lee Band into the Chinkees. For The Love Of Music is the result of years of patient work by a man who, by all outward appearances, shouldn't have any time to write a song ever, let alone record and tour on one. But write and record these eleven songs he did, and I for one thank him.

These acoustic numbers are just what the sticker bills them as: songs about politics, racism, and everyday life. Park's Asian background gives him plenty of fodder for songs about racism, and songs like "From Korea" are chock full of his brand of biting humor and matter-of-fact lyrical style.

Also, many people associate "acoustic" with words like "suck," "lame," and "wussy." Someone must have forgotten to give Mike this memo, as these songs rock just as hard as if they were plugged in. Park enlists friends such as Pat Ford and Rob Kellenberger [both of too many Chicago bands to even begin naming] on about half of the songs to play electric bass and drums, and while Mike's solid baritone and guitar can carry a track easily by themselves, the extra instrumentation just gives each one of those songs an extra kick of memorability. "Counting Sheep" is a beautiful 5 minute ballad, whereas "Southbound 280" delivers with an uptempo rock song that makes your head bop while your mind expands.

In a perfect world, this CD would sell a million copies and all of the work Mike Park does would finally be vindicated through this shiny plastic disc. As it stands, this will probably just fall through the cracks as yet another poorly-promoted indie release that sells a handful of copies before it goes out of print, with each person who owns one praising it to high heaven and making everyone else wish they were on board the USS Mike Park before it set sail.

Okay, that last part was a bit too much rambling for my liking, but the point is, this CD is an honest, sincere document of one man's trials and tribulations over the past three decades. Mike Park should have earned your attention and respect long before this, but in case you're one of the uneducated, this is a good enough place to begin your conversion to Parkism as any.

MP3s
On That Stage
Present Day Memories



People who liked this also liked:
Alkaline Trio - GoddamnitMike Park - North Hangook FallingOperation Ivy - Operation IvyThe Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever ToldThe Suicide Machines - Battle HymnsThe Clash - London CallingThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!The Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartThe Suicide Machines - Destruction By DefinitionAlkaline Trio - Maybe I'll Catch Fire



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    Posted by coffinfullofnails on 2006-08-30 12:54:50
    My Score:

    finally got my new copy of this after i lost it and realized how much i missed it. good album, great man.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 15, 2004 at 5:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    just got this cd from my school's radio station. wow, it is really good. I didnt think id like it as much as I do.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 11:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    best solo accustic record!
    yes I LOVE IT!! and YOU should do it too!!! :-)

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 3:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    very fast comment:

    I LOVE IT!!

    Posted by Kenjamin on 2004-04-30 14:17:36
    My Score:

    I saw him a Plea for Peace and the songs on here that he played came alive, even without the violin or Colossal backing him up. He played old stuff too. I got to meet him and i was as nervous as fuck and ended up sounding like an assclown. Forgive me Mike.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 2:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    At first listen the album was just good, but now it has grown on me and I almost believe myself when I say I'll never get tired of these songs no matter how many times I play them.
    Also, I'm not calling out the people that just smashed on this album but honestly, this is not an album you just happen upon. You must have put some effort into getting it which means you must have had a general idea of how it was going to sound even if you had not even heard a Mike Park song prior (it is a solo debut acoustic album). Well it seems to me that everyone who said this album was crappy said so as if they were expecting a genre that was just not being advertised. If somebody got the album with the preconceived notion of the genre it was advertising and still thought the album was crappy. Then that is a valid and respectable negative opinion. Personally though, I find it almost impossible to not find this album incredible if you knew what you were even purchasing.

    Posted by Greenvandal on 2003-11-20 08:30:39
    My Score:

    Seriously, stop being that guy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 10:01 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    hey That Guy, i made the first 'don't be That Guy' post on this thread, and i made it because you went all apeshit on somebody for joking about a Mike Park song. somebody said 'i didn't sit next to him because he was asian' and you acted like he started up a chapter of the KKK. next time chill the fuck out and maybe i won't have to say that you're being That Guy. but in this case you really were being That Guy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 1:37 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    now now. Dont be Greenvandal. And by Greenvandal I mean a bitch. When was I dick to you ? Huh ? I wasn't ? That's what I thought.

    THAT GUY

    Posted by boba_fett on 2003-11-19 09:32:10
    My Score:

    "This review was good, but here's how I would make it better:

    1. It should mention if the cd is better to listen to while IN the shower, or DRYING off from a shower.

    2. It didn't say anything about opening bands. I think support bands are just as important as headliners

    3. What is the reviewer's favorite? In general."

    that must have been superdude. dude i dont know whats up in your head but you sure know how to say randomn things that make no sense that people dont quite understand that i think are funny. meh.

    Posted by CrankWillDestroy on 2003-11-18 11:15:32
    My Score:

    That guy - 'And to the guy who said "that shit was clever yo"'. If you're referring to my comment, you weren't even close, thereby making you the retard. Don't even post anymore. thanks.

    Posted by Greenvandal on 2003-11-18 08:17:09
    My Score:

    now now. Dont be THAT_GUY. And by THAT_GUY I mean a bitch.

    :)

    Mike Park would kick trapts ass. With Kung-Fu! Yeah, i said it, and you know you were thinking it you rascist fuck.

    Posted by THAT_GUY on 2003-11-18 07:26:54
    My Score:

    To the commenter 2 below this,

    What the fuck ?

    That is all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at 12:07 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Have you ever danced in the shadows of the dark moonlight?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 9:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This review was good, but here's how I would make it better:

    1. It should mention if the cd is better to listen to while IN the shower, or DRYING off from a shower.

    2. It didn't say anything about opening bands. I think support bands are just as important as headliners

    3. What is the reviewer's favorite? In general.

    Posted by THAT_GUY on 2003-11-17 21:26:48
    My Score:

    To the guy who said "Don't be that guy", very clever for the 1000th time. And to the guy who said "that shit was clever yo", you're a fucking moron. Do any of you who found that funny have any idea how many people have made that joke ? Or for that matter, understand that the name is in fact in reference to "That Guy" ?

    Also, this CD is very good, but something seems lacking. I think I hyped it too much in my head, but it IS very good nonetheless.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 6:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    haha, why does Mike owe you money?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 3:30 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    you have a trapt cd?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 2:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    in the ever optimistic light, i must say i'd rather have this than another trapt cd.

    Posted by Ted_The_Bellhop on 2003-11-17 09:43:27
    My Score:

    Mike Park is a really awesome guy. This record is really great, so way to go Mike

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2003-11-17 00:16:24
    My Score:

    Ya know I've come to the realization that the people who don't like this are not idiots! Why should I be upset because someone doesn't like the same records I listen to?! It's better to hear someone say "hey, this sucks!" Rather than just go along with the crowd to be cool or whatever!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 11:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This Cd BLOWS, I want my $$$ back!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 10:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    mike park. gotta represent the azn.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 7:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Way Overrated!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 7:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    mike park owes me money. but mike park is a good guy

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 7:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    love me destroyer's new record black heart affair fucking rules. go get it

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 4:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this guy sounds great until you listen to "on that stage"

    can anyone say dashboard confessional?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 4:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    God damn this is good. Good lyrics, good vocals, good music, good everything.

    Posted by blood_brothers_are_good on 2003-11-16 14:12:59
    My Score:

    nope, this was no good. sorry, good message, but not feeling the songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 2:10 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Mike Park should stick to running his label and doing all teh other good stuff he does. Just stay out of the recording studio.

    -scotty

    Posted by TheNick on 2003-11-16 01:46:49
    My Score:

    "don't be That Guy."

    the guy that said that^ can kick mike parks ass. cuz that shit was clever yo.

    but as far as music goes... mike parks rocks harder than a cradle on a treetop.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 11:43 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    You're right it blows!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 6:33 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    eh, its ok. not as good as everyone seems to think it is, but thats my opinion.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 6:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Mike Park stole my virginty...

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 5:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Mike Park is so awesome. This CD is awesome.

    -Justin

    Posted by siropsycho on 2003-11-15 14:04:16
    My Score:

    hahaha to comment below....too bad i don't have any money, i want this and the new Against Me!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 2:01 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    don't be That Guy.

    Posted by THAT_GUY on 2003-11-15 12:24:40
    My Score:

    Whoever commented he "didn't sit next to him because he was asian", you are a dumbass. The song is about how he DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO DO THAT. So basically you've taken the meaning wrong. Nice job actually listening. And I can't wait to get this CD tomorrow. Cactus here I come !!!

    Posted by huey on 2003-11-15 11:00:34
    My Score:

    This guy has a great voice.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 10:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i'm going to go buy this today.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 9:06 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I was also at his Birthday/Record Release bash in LA...he served me and my bud some ice cream cake...took some pictures with me...played some tunes. What a beautiful man he is...
    -MATEO D'CAY

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 8:56 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    jack grisham for governor!
    -Janelle

    oh he lost...

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 4:27 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "i didn't sit next to him because he was asian"

    yes!

    Posted by vien on 2003-11-15 03:12:15
    My Score:

    Went to his record release show/birthday party. It was really fun and there was cake too. Mike Park is just an awesome person and the total opposite of a rock star.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 1:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record is utter crap! Next...

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2003-11-15 00:58:27
    My Score:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this record!!!I've Been waiting for it forever! When it finally came out tuesday I ran to my local store and bought it and it hasnt left my CD player since!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 12:22 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    mike park is the asian punk rock messiah. that is all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 10:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Ive been waiting for this cd for about three years now. I got a cd of his at pleace for peace 2001 and i cant even find that anymore. Mike Park is the emobidiment of punk rock. He cant do wrong and this album is incredible, absolutley incredible.

    -bryan styles

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 7:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Score is for last comment. The Struggle Continues was damn good as well, but in a different way.

    And Score's for Mike too. I love the bastard!

    Posted by ryan- on 2003-11-14 18:47:44
    My Score:

    "I ordered this cd on Tuesday, but I haven't got it yet because I'm waiting for a link 80 sweatshirt to come back in stock. It is pissing me off. I really can't wait to hear it though. The stuff I've heard is really good."

    Score is for mentioning Link 80, 17 Reasons was awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 6:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Im not really into the whole acoustic thing, but mike park can do no wrong, so i'll probly check it out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 6:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    soon as I saw there was a mike park review, I knew who would have reviewed it. sounds pretty good, those two songs are great

    -bemused-

    Posted by CrankWillDestroy on 2003-11-14 18:33:24
    My Score:

    'i was going to download this until i found out he was a gook'

    wow, you're pretty creative.

    anyway, mike is the man. Good call on getting Rob Kellenberger on the album. He's an amazing drummer and he's gotta voice too.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 6:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i was going to download this until i found out he was a gook

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 6:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    mike park for gov.!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 6:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i didn't sit next to him because he was asian

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 5:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    MIKE PARK IS THE MAN!!!

    love,
    fallingtopieces

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2003-11-14 17:06:35
    My Score:

    I ordered this cd on Tuesday, but I haven't got it yet because I'm waiting for a link 80 sweatshirt to come back in stock. It is pissing me off. I really can't wait to hear it though. The stuff I've heard is really good.

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