Totally Fucking the ’80s
Various Artists
Boxcar
Subtitled “The ’90s underground covering the ’80s mainstream in the ‘00,” Totally Fucking the ’80s is a clever compilation that does just that, collecting 24 different bands doing 24 hits from the big ’80s. The emphasis here is on various subgenres of punk rock, from the Casio-core of Atom & His Package (covering Madonna’s “Open Your Heart”) to the ska-punk of MU330 and Skif Dank (the Go-Go’s “Vacation” and Steve Miller’s “Abracadabra,” respectively) to the emo-punk of Hot Water Music (John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Authority Song,” a song that’s begged for a punk cover). Highlights include Quadilacha’s faithful version of Devo’s “Girl You Want,” Discount’s breakneck pop-punk take on R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (amazingly speeding up the already rapid-fire tune!), Swank’s indie/funk/ska/kitchen sink version of Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose,” and Against All Authority’s muscular ska-punk cover of the J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold.” Also includes previously unreleased covers from Peterbuilt (the Police’s “Message in a Bottle”), Shower With Goats (Billy Idol’s “White Wedding”), Level Head (Men At Work’s “I Can See It in Your Eyes”), Pivot (REO Speedwagon’s “Take It on the Run”), Situation No-Win (Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time”), Fun Size (the Go-Go’s “How Much More”), Buttercup (a-ha’s “Take On Me”), and Uphill Down (a medley of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” and “Girls”), and contributions from Tiltwheel, Self, the Grumpies, the McRackins, the Pee Tanks, Nobodys, the Bollweevils, and Stizzle. A fun record for anyone that likes both “old wave night” and cutting-edge modern punk rock – if this one doesn’t bring a smile to your face, you’re too cynical for your own good.
Boxcar Records, P.O. Box 1141, Melbourne, FL 32902; http://www.boxcarrecords.com
