You don't need to be Forrest Gump to liken the Tooth & Nail Rock Sampler Volume 2 to a box of chocolates. Open it up and you have twelve of the freshest, sweetest modern rock tracks ready for immediate, satisfying consumption. My favorites are chewy caramels, the Turkish Delight of the chocolate box, and we have a few of those here. Songs so good, you could have more than one in a row, and when they're all gone you pine for more. Among them are The Deluxtone Rockets' swing-a-billy romp on "Hi Fi Daddy," Pep Squad's Pixie-ish pop on "Freak Show," Royal's full-throttle "Haze," and Danielson's absurd pop delight "Potty Mouth."
Of course, every assorted sugary sampler has a few of those less desirable chocolates. I don't much care for the kind with nuts, and there are a few nutty ones here. But chocolate is still chocolate, and this entire selection is appetizing to some degree. In fact, the bulk of these confections are so appealing that you'd only throw a few to the dog for a snack. They all may not compel you to go searching for more, but they go down the hatch just fine. And make you smile.
Of all the Christian-friendly record labels, Seattle's Tooth & Nail Records has by far the most diverse and interesting roster of artists. Here are twelve deserving of recognition. They're guaranteed not to make you sick from over-stuffing yourself, so go ahead and glut on these goodies in a sonic snack binge.
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Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestThere's nothing really new on this album, containing songs previously released only. But this is stuff worth checking out if you haven't heard them before. Bands featured here are The Juliana Theory, The Deluxtone Rockets, Fanmail, Royal, Pep Squad, Starflyer 59, Morella's Forest, Danielson, The Huntingtons, Puller, Bon Voyage and Plankeye. The songs were chosen by Tooth & Nail boss Brandon Ebel…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Justin W. JonesA CD that has great bands like Starflyer 59, Plankeye, Puller, Danielson, and Royal cannot go wrong, as demonstrated by this impressive compilation for the mellower tastes, put together as a counterpart to the Songs From the Penalty Box saga. It is not mellow in the sense that you would listen to this while falling asleep; it is more mellow in the sense that you can understand 98% of what they…Also in The Phantom Tollbooth 1999
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