Some of the tracks are well known such as the Prodigy’s Breathe and Motorhead’s Ace of Spades – two classics although Breathe is not so much of an obvious skater’s song. This makes it a surprise, if welcome, inclusion. Some are known on other things like Tony Hawks Pro Skater (another skater connection). CKY is one of these and they run in the same vein as heavier metal bands. Basically this is a run through of punk rock from almost the very start of rock with MC5 to now with the Darkness and Black Motorcycle Rebel Club.

The Darkness are a very new band and are pretty much a parody of AC/DC and it’s hard to fault them because they don’t take themselves seriously. You just have to listen to their stuff to realise this. Of course there are bands that were instrumental in starting punk rock as we know it (including a personal favourite of mine, Bad Religion) but also some choices that ‘will cause an argument or two’ according to the inlay booklet.

You’ll find that there are some less well known songs by some bands for example OPM with ‘Fish Out of Water’ instead of ‘Heaven is a Halfpipe’ so this isn’t just a commercial exercise but, instead just trying to open punk up to a wider audience. Perhaps the most unexpected inclusion is Public Enemy and Anthrax’s ‘Bring the Noise’ a forerunner of rap rock.

This is one compilation I could happily listen to for a long time to come. It’s even opened my eyes to bands I’d never listened to before but heard of. And, even if you’ve been listening to these bands for years it’ll be a pleasure just to hear these songs in a different context. Highly recommended.


Natasha Perry