Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: RED Distribution

Notes: While Fat Mike of NOFX has never been known as one of the more emphatic and articulate political voices in punk rock (let's face it, NOFX have been more about high punk goofiness than making a "statement"), he's certainly been making up for that in 2004, having started the Leftist activist group Punkvoter.com with the expressed goal of voting George W. Bush out of the White House in that year's presidential elections, and releasing not one but two Rock Against Bush compilation albums on his Fat Wreck Chords label. Designed to raise money for Punkvoter.com and awareness about the upcoming election, Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 offers up 73 minutes worth of circa 21st century punk with a decidedly anti-authoritarian slant; if you're looking for specific anti-Dubya anthems, there aren't a lot of 'em here, though No Use for a Name's acoustic reworking of "Fields of Agony" actually features the voice of the man himself thanks to the magic of sampling, and Bad Religion contribute "Let Them Eat War" from their virulently anti-Republican The Empire Strikes First. Along the way, you get solid new stuff from Green Day, Sleater-Kinney, Foo Fighters and the Dropkick Murphys, hard-to-find tunes from No Doubt, Jawbreaker, and Yellowcard, and generally cool rock from the Lawrence Arms, Flogging Molly, Rancid, Operation Ivy, and the (International) Noise Conspiracy. In short, a good, pissed-off time is had by all, and anyone with a taste for the current state of punk rock and a healthy disgust for the Bush administration will consider their money well spent on this album. The CD is accompanied by a bonus DVD that adds major value to the package, featuring six politically oriented short subjects (including extended previews of Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War and Unconstitutional), five music videos (including NOFX's ridiculous and sublime "Idiot Son of an Asshole"), and some genuinely funny topical humor from Will Ferrell, Patton Oswalt, and Greg Proops. Register to vote, and pick this up on the way home. ~ Mark Deming Only a few months after his first ROCK AGAINST BUSH collection of 2004, Fat Wreck Chords owner/NOFX frontman Fat Mike released a follow-up album. As on the initial outing, Fat Mike brought together a broad range of mostly pop-punk acts, with well-written songs only superseded by even more well-crafted liner notes, this time penned by Anti-Flag's Justin Sane. Outrage from the punk community continues to pour forward as 28 artists offer cuts for inclusion on this compilation. Mainstream darlings No Doubt and Foo Fighters appear with the previously unreleased "Comforting Lie" and a blistering cover of the Angry Samoans' "Gas Chamber," respectively. Also leaping into the fray are indie-rockers Sleater-Kinney, SoCal punk godfathers Bad Religion, and Bay Area stalwarts Rancid (also represented in its former incarnation, Operation Ivy) and Green Day. Fans of pop-punk (Yellowcard), hardcore (Sick of It All), and fourth-wave ska (Mad Caddies) will also find enjoyable and thought-provoking fare. Like its predecessor, ROCK AGAINST BUSH VOL. 2 includes a bonus DVD. This one includes music videos, six political featurettes, and comedy segments starring Will Ferrell, Greg Proops, and Patton Oswalt.

Rolling Stone (p.78) - 3 stars out of 5 - "The standout is Green Day's 'Favorite Son,' a power-pop newie..." Spin (pp.113-14) - "[T]he music's we-mean-it-man urgency and mall-punk spunk are undeniable." - Grade: B Alternative Press (p.136) - 4 out of 5 - "[The] series heightens its awareness with a more recognizable roster..." CMJ (p.4) - "Good punk and a great cause."

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