Artist: Various Artists

Album: The Solid State Young Bloods Tour 2004

Label: Solid State Records

Tracks: 8

Length: 29:26

Reviewed By: Justin Brinker

 

I cannot help but have somewhat of a critical eye when viewing the current roster of The Solid State Young Bloods Tour 2004 album that is my hands right now. It is not that I am critical of their music, nor of the artists themselves, but rather the lack of longevity that will be inevitable for many bands in this genre and on this record. So many times I hear the argument that “So and So is the future of music” or “So and So is exactly what this scene has needed” only to have them release one record and never be heard of again or better yet resurface in a sub par side project.  The longevity of a band has become a running joke for many, especially those from Solid State, Tooth and Nail, and even BEC Recordings.  I grew up with almost every album from all of the above labels and had a wide-eyed innocence that these bands would still be around and relevant when I became an adult.  I am now an adult and many of these bands are now nowhere to be found, much like my wide-eyed innocence.  I am grateful for artists like Starflyer 59, and Joy Electric who have had an immense amount of staying power and have been a huge inspiration emotionally and spiritually.  I am saddened when I think over the past few years the bands that have come and gone, that will continue to go, and the brevity of their short careers.

 

“Young Bloods Tour 2004” is the new face of Solid State Records.  Showbread and The Chariot attempt to lead the way.  Showbread offers “Mouth Like A Magazine” and “Dead By Dawn” claiming to be “raw rock” employs the sing/scream vocals heard throughout much of the independent rock scene but with a lazy laid back rock feel, keytar in tact, it makes for an interesting listen.  He Is Legend’s “The Seduction” is a collaboration of punk, rock, and hardcore and is one of my favorite tracks on the sampler while “I Am Hollywood” is not as strong but still manages to captivate the listener for it’s 2 and a half minutes. The Chariot brandishes two tracks from their recently released “Everything’s Alive, Everything’s Breathing, Nothing Is Dead and Nothing Is Bleeding” and the chaos and brutality ensues with frenzied vocal takes and uncanny tempo changes.  Far-Less present’s “Scorched Earth Policy” and brings to mind a more pop oriented Haste The Day.  The melodic post-hardcore outfit As Cities Burn is a bit predicable but still fairly strong with the only unreleased track on the sampler a demo entitled “1:27.”

 

For those of you wondering what all the hype is about that surrounds many of the previously mentioned bands, then this is a good gauge, short but good.  This would not be recommended to any one who already has the full-lengths because all of the tracks with the exception of one are found on the band’s albums. History reveals that at least half, if not more, of the bands on this roster will not even be putting out records a year or two from now.  Blame it on the fickle music climate, the lack of record sales, creative differences, lack of funds, or a million other reasons.  Longevity is a lost art. Maybe I am just being overly critical or maybe I am just getting older, as they say, with age comes wisdom. Be careful to lay such worthy praise upon artists that have just begun to cut their teeth in to the scene.  I was not and the end result has left me nostalgic and at times critical. Do the new faces of this genre hold their collective weight against those that paved the way?  That is for you to decide.