Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



Various

Plea for Peace Volume 2
2007
Asian Man

Various - Plea for Peace Volume 2 (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Brian
See others by this writer


[staff]

Plea for Peace (link)

Only registered users
can post comments


Print this Review Send this Review to a Friend
Asian Man Records (Logo)

Published on April 27th 2007

Mike Park delivers the second volume of his Plea for Peace charity compilation, the long-awaited followup to the series that debuted in 2000. Okay, is it really long-awaited? Maybe not by many, but previously unreleased tracks from the likes of Pansy Division, Jawbreaker, Cave In and more definitely make it worth the purchase, especially when they're contained within 52 mostly good-to-great songs total.

Chuck Ragan opens Disc 1 with "For Broken Ears," off the first 7" of his singles club. For those first hearing Ragan in solo form it's a fine introduction and should get anyone pumped for either of his upcoming releases. Alkaline Trio and Anti-Flag both contribute classic old-school jams -- "Cringe" and "Their System Doesn't Work for You," respectively. I found Dead to Me's Fat debut Cuban Ballerina merely pretty good, but "By the Throat" stands out mighty here for some reason. Tim Barry's unabashed country jangle provides a unique moment to things, while the Dexter Holland cameo of the Dwarves' eccentrically poppy "Salt Lake City" will have you double-checking the track listing. Planes Mistaken for Stars craft one of their best, most refreshing intros on "Never Felt Prettier," even though I'm not quite digging on the entire song. The Singularity sound like they could sign to Fat any minute now with the dreadfully gravelly vocal-charged "Leigh and Strokes." Smoke or Fire ("The Patty Hearst Syndrome") and the Bouncing Souls ("The Gold Song") both offer a standout apiece from their latest albums. Meanwhile, Bleeding Through offers a bit of a cheesy metal reprieve from the generally punk rock nature of the disc. Cave In offers another break themselves with a live version of "Dead Already" from their 2005 cassingle; however, it sounds better than its rough studio version, further showcasing a crust/d-beat styling from the band the likes of which fans have never really heard before...ever. Sundowner's excellent "Steal Your Words" closes quite the solid trio of singer/songwriter tracks on Disc 1.

Over on the second disc, Andrew Jackson Jihad's previously unreleased tune "No More Tears" should please fans of acoustic anarcho-folk-punk (Plan-It-Xcore?). Shinobu is next with their vaguely Jawbreaker-esque "Teachers Get Tired" (also previously unreleased) and I may check out more of their stuff based on this one. However, the real deal is up next with a rare live cut of "Do You Still Hate Me?," and it's fucking fantastic; Blake Schwarzenbach absolutely pleads and strains his line of "and I miss you!" during the climax, truly sounding more sincere and emotional than any given moment off Live 4/30/96 -- it's even more heartwrenching than Schwarzenbach is usually capable of. Mike Hale offers the peculiar but amusing "Leatherface Fan" and Drag the River The Boss-heavy "Me & Joe Drove Out to California." NOFX chip in a track from their own 7" series with the above par "100 Times Fuckeder," and the Draft a 7" contribution as well in "Devil in the Shade." The Sainte Catherines ("Ring of Fire = 4 Points") and Western Addiction ("Mailer, Meet Jim") offer a bit of a heavier outlook, with Cursive ("Bad Sects") oddly sandwiched in between. I could do without Throwdown's "Burn," but Heavens' "Patent Pending" I somehow can on yet another compilation. Mike Park's twangy "Roger Staubach Plays the Lead" closes it nicely.

Some of the only real criticisms that could be levied here would be the overabundance of Fat Wreck Chords acts (six in all -- Asian Man has seven, but it can be excused because they're the label responsible for the comp's release), and a few songs that are already offered as a free download on a band/label's website per usual compilation habit.

Plea for Peace Volume 2 is otherwise a great and diverse collection of tracks with some wonderful moments and rare treats. Additionally, with 100% of the proceeds going to a good cause, it's hard to go wrong.



People who liked this also liked:
Against Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseMouse Fire - Wooden TeethTusk - The Resisting DreamerDave House - See That No One Else EscapesDartz! - This Is My ShipSugartown Cabaret - The First Time I Lost the Road MapEndgame - DistractedEnvy - AbyssalThe Catalyst - Marianas Trench [12 inch]Rosetta - Wake/Lift



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.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 12:17 PM (EDT)

    shinobu > than most bay area bands

    Posted by SFPUNXXX on 2007-04-30 19:19:40
    My Score:

    Yeah the comp is pretty kick ass a lot of local bands that I didnt exspect to be on there like dead to me,Dwarves,and the biggest surprise The Singularity. I've seen all these bands play a lot around S.f and Berkeley so kudos to Asain man,Plea for Peace,and Mike Park for putting togeather such a kick ass affordable comp and staying true to the indy spirit of having local bands. Love it!! SF Punxxx

    Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-04-30 16:18:45

    That's not Mike Park on the cover, is it?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 2:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Great Comp! Its up there with the more bounce to the ounce comp. The Jawbreaker comp rules. Sure you can own the studio version, but the live version is raw and gritty. Ive always been a HWM fan and I think chuck's solo album is gonna blow the draft (who are very good as well). I also just the ordered The Singularity split, so i hope the rest of their shit is good.

    Posted by david_arquette on 2007-04-30 01:29:16
    My Score:

    Finally picked it up. Totally worth it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 2:52 PM (EDT)

    whats annoying is that the bands i ahve heard of on this album i already have the songs they contributed

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 12:36 AM (EDT)

    i like throwdown. props to mike park for including 'em here.

    Posted by MilkyJoe on 2007-04-28 07:12:55

    Yeah... I already ordered it, but it usually takes 5 days to get here and I guess I got a litlle impatient, sorry about that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 27, 2007 at 1:01 PM (EDT)

    i cannot wait to hear "do you still hate me" live. from this review it sounds fucking unreal. thats always been my fave track off of 24 hour revenge therapy.

    Posted by Ven89 on 2007-04-27 12:19:08
    My Score:

    Buy 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. Or just download if off of soulseek or one of a million torrents. Great comp, I've been enjoying it a lot.

    Posted by MilkyJoe on 2007-04-27 06:15:28
    My Score:

    Speaking of Jawbreaker, I really really wish there was some way of me getting my hands on to some sort of digital version of "the boat dream from the hill" over this in-ter-net thingy.

    I really really need it for my new driving mix tape.

    And I would be willing to part ways with a good deal of imaginery money too...

    Please help me

    Posted by FuckYouOiOiOi on 2007-04-27 01:21:28
    My Score:

    i have the original plea for peace, the Operation Ivy 7inch. score is for that record.

    Posted by david_arquette on 2007-04-27 00:35:27

    Does anyone wanna send me the Shinobu track off the new Plea for Peace?

    I'd run out and pick up the comp right now, but I'm dying at home with bronchitis, and I could really use some new Shinobu.

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-04-27 00:30:43
    My Score:

    Personally I think it's awesome that a band like Throwdown contributes to this...it just adds to the variety!

    Posted by david_arquette on 2007-04-27 00:24:42

    Andrew Jackson Jihad is some of Phoenix's best. Nicest dudes ever, and I couldn't be happier for them.