V/A - For The Benefit of Mr. T
For The Benefit of Mr. T – A Their Old Stuff Is Better Compilation 25 tracks, 55:33, which averages out to 2:13 a track. This CD starts out with Deuce and a Half’s very memorable distortion and bass filled sound, which the horrible recording that this band is known for. Anther non-song track follows, then The Blonde Alibi comes in with Bad Religion sounding guitars and deadpan vocals. 60’s punk comes out very nicely with the Cancer Kids in the oh-so-famous Donnas and Misfits style. The recording on the Bobby Milk and the Female Appliances track is horrid, but the song seems irreverent a la Tom Green. Another live track follows, that is the most annoying performance and lyrical content that I have heard in years. Clergy Fantasmo is one of the most amateur scratchers that I have heard, and Shiva brings the CD back to an actual song, with a style in the vein of Clutch and Monster Magnet. Lunar Excursion Module shows the tempo formerly prevalent on the CD, until a much speedier punk side comes out. Don’t worry about, as the music is innocuous, in the style of JFT and TMBG.

The track by the decembers architects does not exist, leading to a bizarre punk/rock mix by the Pissed Robots on Crack the their Ode to Winnie Pooh. Yet another live track follows with Cal Hopkins Amish Armada, who play an odd-sounding rock song, which is cut off horribly. This all leads to “Tow” by ATF, who aren’t the uber-popular metal band After the Fire, but a Indy Rock act that have their own sedate style. Illfist play a Raised Fist style of Hardcore, with the heavy guitars and breakneck drumming, but throw a cog in the works with Rage Against The Machine-style vocals. Wish Upon A Star is a punk band that are like a mix of At The Drive-In and every other Pop-Punk band out there. The Rent-A-Friends play pop-punk in the Pansy Division and Red Hot Valentine style, adding much-needed synths to the overall sound. Suburban Core play a very fast punk rock style in the shadow of such great acts as Buckwild and Screeching Weasel. The Scattergun Reflex song starts off in a most grating style, but just as fast begins playing music most similar to Radiohead’s “OK Computer” and Frank Zappa’s “Joe’s Garage”, in an instrumental song.

Presley Auvenshine has the early 90’s sound down, as his track has the feeling that songs such as Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” had when they came out. The Victoria Principle perfectly resurrect the 80’s Goth sound, which a pinch of the instrumentation that bands such as Tool have added to the pop aspects of the genre. A drunk-punk version of Amazing Grace by the Scapegoats pales in comparison to the far superior version by the Dropkick Murphies. Slackjaw’s “Speaking Terms” is one of he most beautiful tracks on the CD, with amazing instrumentation. The original version of “Treat Your Mother Right”, by Mr. T himself, is the high point of the disc, as the beats laid down on this track are as phat as the day they were created. Get in touch with Their Old Stuff Is Better Records at 1401 Portland Ave. S. #303, Minneapolis MN 55404, 612-375-0753, makingbedroomeyes@yourmom .com or go to their site at http://www.rockandrolllincoln.com

Rating:5.8/10