Various Artists - Rock (Album)
Rock may be a simple, four-letter word but as a genre it is a complicated and schizophrenic one. After all, consider that there is: art rock, swamp rock, soft rock, punk rock, prog rock, surf rock, hard rock, Christian rock, Kraut rock, indie rock, alt-rock and glam rock, to name but a few. So in 2009, the compilation programmers seem to have taken the easy way out by throwing their hands up, surrendering and simply bundling forty artists together under this one crude banner.
But does anyone even BUY compilations anymore? Because I would have thought with things like iPod Genius, file sharing and even the humble ol’ mixtape, we wouldn’t need a predetermined set of songs packaged by some record company suits. But I suppose they can introduce you to some new music and have proven popular in the past. Although more importantly, the profit-making potential of these collections can be big, as they serve to hook listeners in by offering them some of their favourite “hits” while simultaneously attempting to turn them onto other artists. Plus, the linear notes constantly remind the listener where most songs have originated from (or at least the artists that are signed to the label responsible for that compilation have this info as a means of self-promotion.)
But enough ranting, as the collection is not a bad one because a few older tracks like Incubus’ Drive and Korn’s Freak On A Leash offer some nostalgia, while other tracks are near-hot-of-the-press ones like Tame Impala’s Half Full Glass Of Wine and Kaiser Chief’s Never Miss A Beat.
Leading the set, however, is the over-exposed song everyone wishes would just disappear, otherwise known as Kings Of Leon’s Sex On Fire. Meanwhile, songs like Good Charlotte’s Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous are ones that should remain detained and put far away from human consumption (or is that re-consumption as we had a gutful of it the first time around?)
The Aussie contingent is represented by such groups as The Living End, The Vines, Spiderbait, Grinspoon and Sparkadia, to name a few. Meanwhile, some MOR rock is offered by Pete Murray and John Mayer. Finally, some other acts take things up a notch and bring the house down with big kudos due to Pork and Beans, Incinerate and Dashboard by Weezer, Sonic Youth and Modest Mouse, respectively.
In all, this compilation draws together a fairly diverse range of songs under the one-size-fits-all rock banner. The common factor throughout the set is the guitar, bass and drum-driven tracks. However, the variation lies in the fact that some of these numbers have the instruments turned up to eleven and hit home at earth-shattering speeds, while others are more softer and mellow providing quietness and depth.
So dear reader, you can buy this and dance to a good range of music from the noughties and the latter part of last century. Or alternatively, you could tune into Triple M where these songs typically reside (but generally not in such large numbers). Or you could skip this sampler and go straight to the main course of the individual artists’ albums. Freedom of choice is a great thing, innit!
