Fearless Records have released countless Punk Goes…compilations. From Punk Goes Crunk, to Punk Goes Pop, to Punk Goes 90’s vol 1, Punktastic hasn’t always been a fan of these compilations, challenging their originality and whether they can be deemed “punk covers” at all. Unfortunately this release of 12 songs featuring metal and emo stalwarts such as Mayday Parade, Asking Alexandria, and Ice Nine Kills raises much of the same criticism. However, loyal listeners of the Punk Goes..series will know not to expect actual punk covers that veterans Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do so damn well, but rather a bunch of pretty talented bands having a go at something a bit different, slightly out of their comfort zone, and with not always the best results.
Choosing a variety of songs across different genres makes this compilation more bearable. You have the Stone Temple Pilots and Rammstein juxtaposed with Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and pop favourite Natalie Imbruglia. However, it is disappointing that the latter is the only female artist covered on the album; it would have been much more impressive, in the same vein as Me First, to see these all male bands tackling songs with different pitches, out of their comfort zone, and making them work.
The calibre of covers again, varies hugely, and I guess this is what helps to make the Punk Goes..series so popular; you never know what to expect. Two classic American Pie songs, Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy”, and Smash Mouth’s “All Star”, are taken on by Get Scared and Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! respectively and evoke the same “frat boy joins a band” feeling that the originals do. With more prominent use of bass guitar than in the originals, however, these are fun little covers that would be welcomed at any Get Scared or Chunk! gig.
Asking Alexandria, the Color Morale, and The Ghost Inside’s covers are alright, but don’t particularly impress, and Falling in Reverse’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”, is an embarrassing attempt to make a metal version of a classic rap song, in the laziest way possible; with bad rapping and an abundance of guitars. Hands Like Houses’ take on Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” is awesome to listen to, and could be mistaken for a 90’s emo song. There are some highlights in Yellowcard’s take on Smashing Pumpkin’s “Today” and Mayday Parade’s cover of Bush’s “Comedown”. Derek Sanders’ goodboy Floridian voice is simply in a different category to the raw and rugged tones of Gavin Rossdale, and Mayday Parade’s emo version works well.
A valiant attempt of singing in German on Rammstein’s “Du Hast” by American Metal Band Motionless in White features on the second half of the album, and finally, Ice Nine Kills take on the overly played at every alt/normal club night since 1997, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” and surprisingly, actually inject some spice into it with added drums and a bit of bass guitar!
This compilation is a real mixed bag of awesome, entertaining, boring, and lacklustre. There’s no doubt that Fearless records will carry on popping out Punk Goes..compilations at a fast rate. However, let’s hope that the next one is more challenging. Punk goes UK garage? I hope so.
JESS BRANDLER