VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Drive-Thru
Records Greatest Hits" (Drive-Thru; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
There's no question about it: Drive-Thru Records are purveyors of spongerock. And the sixteen tracks here (by bands such as New Found Glory, The Starting Line, Something Corporate, Finch, Midtown, Fenix TX and more) will do nothing to change your mind about that. This CD is loaded with the kind of corporate pop punk stuff that tends to all sound the same.
That being said, Drive-Thru have been very successful selling this type of music and "Greatest Hits" is a reminder as to why. Sure, it's got a lot to do with marketing to the teen set, but most of the songs on this CD are reminders that not all spongerock is bad rock. In fact, New Found Glory still sound pretty good on their two tracks here ("Hit or Miss," "My Friend's Over You"), as do Fenix TX and Something Corporate. And The Starting Line's naughty "Bedroom Talk" may still bring a smile to your face.
Sure, it all tends to blur together by the time you get to the "bonus" tracks by The Early November, Allister and Hellogoodbye but the good thing about the peppy energy of pop punk is that you can listen to an hour solid of it and then be hungry for more later.
Much later, usually.
For more information, check out http://www.drivethrurecords.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 01 Apr 2024 10:34:43 -0500.
