Touring Japan
Various Artists
Timebomb/Dischord
This is a compilation of 3 bands from the DC area and 1 Japanese band that recently completed a tour of Japan together. Representing the USA are Sweetbelly Freakdown, Bluetip, and Kerosene 454. I own just about everything that these bands have out right now, so I was really excited to get my hands on this record, especially since each band offers 2 unreleased songs. Unfortunately, I found most of the songs to be sub-par in terms of the quality that I’m used from them. Sweetbelly Freakdown is the last lineup of Swiz with a cumbersome name. There are two new songs from them here. Bluetip plays Fugazi meets Tool post-hardcore. They offer one original and a B-52’s cover. Kerosene 454 rushes through two covers, one by Government Issue and another by someone else. Sometimes it’s a treat to hear a band that you really like take on other band’s songs, but in this case the bands seem really bored. It’s a shame that this is so bland. All three of these bands have much better stuff out. I guess if you’re a completist and have to own everything by one or more of those bands you could justify picking this up, otherwise pass. The brightest spots on this record come from the Japanese band Naht. There’s some life in the recordings of their songs, which is more than can be said for those lazy Americans. Dischord 3819 Beecher St. NW Washington, DC 20007
