Labels: Fueled by Ramen – Redline
Review by: Mark Skold
This is a refreshing change – the whole split release/ compilation thing has been done. With New.Old.Rare, Fueled By Ramen have taken the “more than one band” thing to a new place. 3 songs, one new, one old and one rare, from four different bands. And here we have some of the better ones out there at the moment, Midtown (pop-punk), Recover (hardcore rock), Blueline Medic (emo rock) and Silent Corporation (modern emo pop rock).
The concept came about from a label in Australia, Redline Records, with near enough the same bands. This is a good mix of what’s out there without being too different to sound connected.
Highlights are the awesome Tori Amos cover of Precious Things, by Blueline Medic, and pretty much everything by Recover and Silent Corporation. Midtown are killer, although the song from their new record does sound a little bit (just a little) out of place due to its ultra slick sound… they’re signed to a major now, after all. That being said, the other two they put on there are pretty lo-fi and raw (even if one of them is an acoustic), which takes some good steps to make up for it.
All in all, this is a cool concept, the bands are all shit hot, and the songs are all solid as anything. In essence, both awesome and sweet. Check it out if you get a chance.