Various Artists – “Take Action! Volume 7”

This comp sells for less than $10, and the proceeds go to a great cause, so I really shouldn’t be slagging it. I own three other volumes of the Take Action! series, and while they all have their hits and misses, Volume 7 offers a lot more of the latter than I’d have liked.

Although the Internet has stolen a lot of the benefits formerly afforded to compilations – variety, a chance to check out new bands, etc. – there’s still some charm to the format. With this release, though, the only tracks I can really stand are the ones from releases I already own. I can’t think of another instance where not one new track has surprised me and caused me to seek out more from a given artist. Maybe I’m just way to up-to-date with music, or maybe this is just a poor compilation. Either way, I was disappointed.

Set Your Goals’ “Echoes” is the runaway on the audio portion of the offering, as I may have guessed with a simple glance at the track listing. Palatable offerings are served up by Motion City Soundtrack, Valencia, Thrice, and The Matches, so if you’re inexperienced with any of these groups, maybe this one is worth your time. Unfortunately, most of the stuff on here just doesn’t appeal to me. Chiodos, All Time Low, Cute Is What We Aim For, Mayday Parade, and Drop Dead Gorgeous (among others) give this one enough strikes to wipe out an entire side of batters.

The DVD side, oddly enough, offers an even further polarity, with some great songs (I won’t discuss the videos themselves) from The Receiving End Of Sirens, The Red Chord, Four Year Strong, and August Burns Red. Hell, even the All American Rejects live track is pretty solid. Match that with nonsense from The Devil Wears Prada, Alesana, and All Time Low, though, and you’re further back than when you started.

Obviously, this one will come down to personal preference, but I’d advise you to throw some money at Shirts For A Cure or some past volumes of this series if you’re looking to be philanthropic with your music instead of joining the suffering by playing this one through.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Andy Williams of Every Time I Die – PSA
02. Every Time I Die – We’re Wolf
03. Silverstein – Still Dreaming
04. Chiodos – Teeth The Size Of Piano Keys
05. From First To Last – Two As One
06. Emery – The Party Song
07. Motion City Soundtrack – This Is For Real
08. All Time Low – Dear Maria, Count Me In
09. Cute Is What We Aim For – Newport Living
10. Mayday Parade – When I Get Home, You’re So Dead
11. Valencia – 3000 Miles
12. Every Avenue – Where Were You
13. Meg And Dia – Roses
14. The Spill Canvas – All Over You
15. Thrice – Digital Sea
16. The Matches – Their City
17. Set Your Goals – Echoes
18. Drop Dead, Gorgeous – They’ll Never Get Me (Word With You)
19. The Bled – Shade Tree Mechanics
20. Haste The Day – Stitches

1:06:27
Release Date: 04.03.2008