Various Artists - Hopelessly Devoted To You vol. 5 (2004)

×

Various Artists - Hopelessly Devoted To You vol. 5 (2004)

Close

V.A. - Hopelessly Devoted To You, Volume 5
APE+CUE+LOG or mp3 CBR 320 | 48:59 min | 355 or 116 MB

The fifth volume of Hopeless' Hopelessly Devoted to You compilation series is a typically economic look at the label and its bands, offering seven previously unreleased tracks and some video content for good measure. It kicks off with material from Mêlée and Amber Pacific, two bands with clear-eyed lead vocals and instrumentation that might best be described as tastefully gritty. In other words, it's stuff that's closer to pop heartbreak than psycho hardcore. At the same time, the Hopeless roster also includes the decidedly metalcore splatter of Break the Silence and Avenged Sevenfold, a stylistic spectrum that speaks to the fractured, shifty nature of hardcore and punk revivalism in 2004. Against All Authority's "Wet Foot Policy" is a dub-inflected gem dating from 1999 and a split 10" with the Criminals, while the unreleased "Where the Waves Are Highest" finds Jesse Michaels revisiting his Operation Ivy glory days with Common Rider. Other highlights include Thrice's "To Awake and Avenge the Dead" (listen to that metal chording!) and a satisfactorily kooky live reading of Atom & His Package's "Punk Rock Academy".

~ Johnny Loftus, all music guide