Driven Far Off

Artist: Various Artists
Album: Punk Goes Acoustic 2
Label: Fearless Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: May 5, 2007

Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 7.5

Fearless Records has been putting out these Punk Goes.. something albums for a while now. The latest one being Punk Goes Acoustic 2. This follow up to Punk Goes Acoustic gives the listener the same thing they have been wanting, acoustic and even more emotional versions of songs by their favorite artists. Although this album does not have as big name artists as the first one it gives the listener just as much bang for their buck.

The best songs on the album without questions are the All Time Low, The All-American Rejects, and The Spill Canvas songs. I already love those songs in their original version, but on this album they are given a whole new face lift and sound. All Time Low plays “Jasey Rae”, which is performed beautifully with soft guitars and piano playing the lead guitar parts. “Night Drive” is The All-American Rejects song. On this album AAR give it a completely new style, slowed down and sort of an acoustic folk rock sound. The Spill Canvas has their famous hit “Staplegunned”, which is just an extremely emotional song in which the emotion is amplified times three when played acoustically.

Other good songs are The Audition’s “Don’t Be So Hard”, Relient K’s “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been”, Jack’s Mannequin’s “Brusied”, and Sherwood’s “The Only Song”. There isn’t that much that is special about “Don’t Be So Hard” or “Bruised”, they are just really great acoustic versions. “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been” is also performed great, and is also not completely acoustic you will hear drums halfway throughout the song. The drums seem necessary for a song like this one, which in its original version is played very fast paced and upbeat. Sherwood plays one of their brand new songs “The Only Song”, which the best thing about it is the harmonizing and catchy guitars parts play acoustically.

There are some bands on this album that many people, including myself are not to familar with yet. One of them being Mayday Parade. I really enjoyed their acoustic verison of “Three Cheers For Five Years”. It’s chopped filled with dualing vocals and piano. If their actually cd is anything like this song they will definitely be a band to look to in the near future. The only true punk bands included on this album are the old and famous Anti-Flag and the newly claimed Set Your Goals. I really honestly don’t like the anti-government rants by Anti-Flag but they did a good acoustic version of “Welcome To 1984”. Set Your Goals perform a decent acoustic version of “Echos”. Althought it is really not even that acoustic. Drums are played constantly throughout the entire song, also with a bass and acoustic guitar. It is pretty much performed with a full band, unlike the rest of the songs on the album.

With these Various Artists albums its rare to find one that is completely perfect. This one comes pretty close. There is only a couple of songs I do not like on here, and all the rest are amazing or just averagely good. I recommend this album for everyone, and especially if you like acoustic songs. This is a great acoustic album.

Standout Tracks
“Jasey Rae”, “Staplegunned”, “Night Drive”, “Bruised”

Tracklisting
1. Jack’s Mannequin – Bruised
2. The Audition – Don’t Be So Hard
3. +44 -Baby, Come On
4. Daphne Loves Derby – Sun
5. Say Anything – Woe
6. Alesana – Apology
7. All Time Low – Jasey Rae
8. Silverstein – Red Light Pledge
9. The All-American Rejects – Night Drive
10. Mayday Parade – Three Cheers For Five Years
11. The Spill Canvas – Staplegunned
12. Relient K – Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been
13. Anti-Flag – Welcome To 1984
14. Sherwood – The Onl Song
15. Set Your Goals – Echoes