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Anti-Flag

A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime (2007)
A-F Records

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Contributed by: Brian
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Published on October 2nd 2007

A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime is a charitable release by Pittsburgh's Anti-Flag with a somewhat self-explanatory title. Early this year, bassist Chris #2 lost someone dear to him: his own sister, as well as her boyfriend, at the hands of violence. This release will consequently provide funds to The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime and provide some hope and comfort to those dealing with the same emotions.

Although billed as an EP, A Benefit is packaged much in the same way the band's 2002 effort Mobilize is: There's five new songs here as well as live versions of five catalog staples and a few interlude tunes to boot. The recording is excellent, the live songs have clear audio and the new stuff, while not exactly a departure for the band, is solid.

"No Paradise" opens as a totally bouncy pop-punk number with lyrics that flip from disheartening to motivating within its short course. It's considerably poppy, even for the band after For Blood and Empire, but it's pretty fun. "Anthem for the New Millennium Generation" is another standout, sounding a little more in tune with the Underground Network / Terror State era. The few others making up the first half don't slouch, though -- even the "Oh, Katrina" interlude is a soulful little stomp-and-clap-along. There's also the street punk-inflected "Marc Defiant," a tribute to the vocalist of fellow Pittsburgh act the Code.

The live flipside kicks off with "No Borders, No Nations," a good, aggressive start despite the eye-rolling nature of the little off-the-cuff lyric at the beginning ("If George Bush wants to end terrorism / he should go ahead and kill himself!"). Stripped of the studio gloss, "1 Trillion Dollars" and "Turncoat" both come off a little less cheesy.

The contributions from a purchase of A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime are already going to a worthy cause, but Anti-Flag have it stocked with enough enjoyable material to make it an all-around solid package.

STREAM
No Paradise
Corporate Rock Still Sucks

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telegraphrocks (October 6, 2007)

Just got this today. Glad to hear they actually professionally recorded "No Paradise" and "Marc Defiant"... those demos floating around for the last year / two years weren't too great sounding.

Can't wait until the new full-length.... or, I could wait, but I'd just like to have it mailed to my house tomorrow.

crackpotdemagogue (October 4, 2007)

there is actually a censored version of 'for blood and empire'?

score is for self-censorship.

ashtraymonument (October 3, 2007)

despite anti-flag's lyrics being basically mindless slogan singing, it's that same shit that got me into politics and better bands like crass and propagandhi in this first place. i still listen to their older stuff on occasion. I didn't really like the sound of for blood and empire, too polished, and i accidentily bought the censored version, which blows even more.

KlashedKi (October 2, 2007)

Dont like Anti-Flag but you gotta respect the idea of this EP. People are fucked up.

feeeding5000 (October 2, 2007)

Oh, yeah, generic, "I dislike this band, they are f'n sellouts," comment.

feeeding5000 (October 2, 2007)

I just wanted to say that this would be soooo much better if it were, "A benefit for victims of a bomb raid." Wiiiiiiiictiiiiiims!

GlassPipeMurder (October 2, 2007)

people still listen to anti-flag, side note people wanna give against me shit about a major, why anti-flag is even more so going against everything they say word.

purely my perspective, but against me! seems to obsess over music and labels much more to the point where they write serious songs about the matter and it's stopped being fun. also, against me! doesn't have nearly the political agenda that anti-flag does, and they haven't cited that as a reason for going major.

plus, For Blood and Empire was much better than New Wave IMO, and I used to like Against Me!'s music more than Anti-Flag. but while anti-flag made a potent, amusing record, against me! just sounded like they were trying too hard.

drunkenriot (October 2, 2007)

ed: people still listen to anti-flag?

drunkenriot (October 2, 2007)

people still listen to anti-flag, side note people wanna give against me shit about a major, why anti-flag is even more so going against everything they say word.

TheMike (October 2, 2007)

People used to love Anti-Flag, then they hated them, and now they seem to like them again. I think they're decent, although I don't listen to them like I used to. I would get this, but I've been falling out of punk lately.

thomas7155 (October 2, 2007)

I feel like I should comment simply because they were one of the bands that got me into punk, and this is going to get a shitload of comments.

GlassPipeMurder (October 2, 2007)

the code is not defunct

yeah, the code is da funk'd!

ThoughtriotAF578 (October 2, 2007)

leaving to get this now.

Toxic_Toast (October 2, 2007)

the code is not defunct