Vans Warped Tour Compilation 2014

Artist: Miscellaneous
Title: Vans Warped Tour Compilation 2014
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 9th June 2014
Reviewed By: Dan Stoten

We don't review many compilation albums here at The Punk Archive, as, to be honest, there aren't really that many hanging around the punk, reggae, ska and alternative scenes, let alone new ones. The Warped Tour Compilation, however, is a seasoned favourite which comes out to coincide with the Tour embarking across the US every year.

It's hard to accurately review a compilation, but we wanted to give you a flavour of it. There's a really good mix of tracks here. Kicking off with Of Mice and Men grabs you by the lapels and hauls you brutally into the fifty-track album. From there it flows nicely into Bayside's Big Cheese, giving your battered ears a slight respite until you're once again thrown into Parkway Drive a few tracks later.

It's good to see the incredible Illinois pop-punkers Real Friends included here. Loose Ends has a real Tour feel to it and nestles in the middle of the first CD alongside favourites such as The Story So Far and Less Than Jake. On these sort of records, song choice is sometimes slightly bizarre, and that's the case here with TSSF: All Wrong has been included, I would imagine on it's strength as a live track. UK noisemakers Marmozets, who are having a brilliant year, are included here, too.

The second CD has an even more diverse feel to it. Remaining infamous from his Warped Tour UK antics in 2013, DJ Watsky has a track here, standing out like a (not-unwelcome) sore thumb. Some of 2014's most brilliant pop-punk is sandwiched closely together on the second CD too, with the triumphant Elevated from State Champs resting with Summertime from Teenage Bottlerocket and Losing Teeth from the UK's Neck Deep. Just those three tracks warrant spending the money on this CD: the other 47 just add icing to the cake!

As ever, this compilation will be a perfect soundtrack to your summer. There's enough variety to keep the listener interested and enough 'not-obvious' track choices for fans to buy it, too.