Brandon Ebel and BEC records recently released a compilation record featuring eleven different artists plus a cut from a CD of swing-style praise songs. Featured bands generally get about two songs in a row starting off with "In Between" by the Supertones from their new Chase the Sun release on BEC. These ska superstars played for the Pope when he visited St. Louis recently, and this is a good taste of their new project. Moms... has previously unreleased material from several bands including Joy Electric, the Dingees, Pep Squad, Fold Zandura, and Rage-Against-the-Machine-sound-alike, Project 86. The "unreleased" song from Project 86 can actually be found on another older demo from the band that isn't on their BEC debut. It is a kickin' song called "Numb," one of the CD's highlights. "Pipe Dream," the other Project 86 song, has a Stavesacre-like sound and is available on their new album.
Other highlights include one from Plankeye, two Pep Squad songs, and a couple of cute songs from ska-swing-girl-punk band One-Eighty. The two songs in the middle of the CD from Fold Zandura, including the previously unreleased "Serena," followed by a couple of tunes by Bon Voyage from their first CD comprise my favorite part of the record.
Value Pac has their energetic "Yesterdays" included from the band's fine record, Jalepeno. Moms... wraps up with a couple of songs for the kids, "Amazing Grace" done in a jazzy, guitar driven swing style, from a collection of swing style praise songs and hymns from BEC, then Not for the Crowd toots out "Gain Back Lost Youth." A big, fast ska song from this big, fast up-and-coming eight member band.
Do not expect this record to flow. The styles are too varied, although there is a lot of ska influence. Do expect lots of subliminal advertising. The packaging is big and bold with band pictures on every page, plus information on when to expect their next record, and an order form for stickers, buttons, video, and t-shirts on the last page. But hey, that's pretty much what making these kinds of compilation CD's is all about--to familiarize potential customers with the artists on the label. Collectors that simply must have every song by Fold Zandura, or Project 86, need to get this, otherwise, you do not need this record.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #77Reviewed by Daniel JohnstonThis label's growing roster is showcasing 22 songs from 12 quality bands. In addition to the well known tunes by many of these bands, there are also a few previously unreleased tracks, like this version of "Numb" by Project 86, "I Love You" by Pep Squad, "Serena" by Fold Zan, "CalmDown" from The Dingees, and "Girl From Rosewood Lane" and "Electric Car" by Joy Electric. We also get introduced to…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestFor a nice acquaintance with BEC Recordings, this sampler was made with not only music your moms will enjoy. The CD opens quite friendly, however, with ska from The OC Supertones (two songs) followed by the keyboardbeats of Joy Electric (three songs). But then some heaviness breaks loose. It's Project 86, the rapcore fanatics (two songs). Most of our moms run away screaming. Most of them will…
