GenturZine

Track listing
The Bouncing Souls songs
Punks in Vegas (The Bouncing Souls) – 2:36
No Security (The Bouncing Souls) – 1:22
That's Youth (Justin Sane) – 3:04
Bryan's Lament (The Bouncing Souls) – 2:16
We're Coming Back (Cock Sparrer) – 3:10
Less Than Free (Sticks and Stones) – 4:11
Anti-Flag songs
America Got It Right (Justin Sane) – 2:56
Smash it to Pieces (Justin Sane) – 2:49
No Borders, No Nations (Anti-Flag, Chris #2) – 3:14
Gifts from America: With Love, the U.S.A. (Justin Sane) – 2:41
The Freaks, Nerds & Romantics (The Bouncing Souls) – 2:31
Ever Fallen in Love (Pete Shelley) – 2:44

The fourth volume in BYO's split series includes the fun New Jersey band Bouncing Souls, who write anthemic, singalong-type songs, and the radical leftist band Anti-Flag, performing a few of each other's tunes, some originals, and several covers. Bouncing Souls are best appreciated live. Their albums tend to all sound similar, though this would be a better-than-average collection from them, especially their covers of Cock Sparrer's "We're Coming Back" and Sticks and Stones' "Less Than Free." Bouncing Souls rock out pretty hard on these numbers and are definitely improving as a band. On the other hand, Anti-Flag is a political band with very little to say. Check out the lyrics to "America Got It Right." Is this supposed to be social commentary? How can you preach about politics when you have such serious issues with simplistic English grammar on your lyric sheet? Anti-Flag spews forth a kiddie version of political punk and can probably only be appreciated by the under-18 set. Still, they are learning to play their instruments better and deliver a not-completely awful take on the Buzzcocks' "Ever Fallen in Love With Someone (You Shouldn't've Fallen in Love With)." Volume three in this split-series, with Rancid and NOFX, is a much more worthwhile effort. - Adam Bregman.

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Track listing

1. "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C. (Sheep In Shepherd's Clothing)" – 2:50
2. "The Economy Is Suffering...Let It Die" – 3:36
3. "The Gre(a)t Depression" – 3:08
4. "We Are The One" – 3:07
5. "You Are Fired (Take This Job, Ah, Fuck It)" – 1:00
6. "This Is The First Night" – 3:33
7. "No War Without Warriors (How Do You Sleep?)" – 2:28
8. "When All The Lights Go Out" – 3:08
9. "On Independence Day" – 2:51
10. "The Old Guard" – 4:17
11. "Teenage Kennedy Lobotomy" (Hidden track) – 1:06

It's heartening to see a post-millennial punk band upholding the legitimate politicized anger--and defiant hope--that stirred the original class of '77 and the hardcore bands of the mid-'80s. And although the band's music sounds current, with hints of thrash and other more recent sounds, their overall vibe is an homage to the simple, powerful, message-heavy music of their forebears. Anti-Flag's ninth studio album includes intense jeremiads about consumerism, the dismal economy, the greed behind both, the never-ending war in Iraq, and the bright flashes of optimism that reside in all of us. Stand-out tracks include the hardcore-ish "No War Without Warriors (How Do You Sleep)" and "On Independence Day," which shows off bassist Chris #2's chops.

Personnel: Anti-Flag (percussion); Justin Sane, Chris Head (vocals, guitar); Chris #2 (vocals, bass instrument); Tyler Kweder, Marc Riot, Marc Code, Jason Cantu, Corey Cameron (vocals); Pat Thetic (drums); Katie Bullers, Anna Schwartz (hand claps).

Alternative Press (p.122) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Laced with vicious gang vocals and guitars that could electrocute, the album burns with the hunger of a band whose metaphorical battle - between the people and the gun -- extends far beyond the music industry."

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Tracklist
1. Good and Ready
2. Bright Lights of America
3. Vices
4. Modern Rome Burning
5. If You Wanna Steal (You Better Learn How to Lie)
6. No Warning
7. Spit in the Face
8. We Are the Lost
9. Go West
10. Smartest Bomb
11. Shadow of the Dead
12. Ink and the Quill (Be Afraid)

Iron City stalwarts Anti-Flag may have been accused by many fans of "selling out" when they signed with RCA Records, but anyone who's still singing that same old song hasn't stopped to listen to THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF AMERICA. As politically volatile as ever, Anti-Flag have merely brought their vital message to a wider audience while expanding their sonic palate beyond the standard Clash/Ramones buzzsaw. "No Warning" flirts with dance-punk via disco beats, "Vices" toys with '80s FM radio rock, and "Shadow of the Dead" greases up the works with horns and hints of funk. They haven't gone soft, though. There are still rants ("Spit in the Face") to remind you of their hardcore roots. One can't help but wonder what Anti-Flag will do with a new president, but if THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF AMERICA is any indication, they're not going to stop fighting.Alternative Press (p.130) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he remarkably controlled expansion of the band's punchy, melodic sound remains fully faithful to their established catalog. Anti-Flag are clearly a band evolving in terms of songwriting and arrangement..."

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Tracklist
1. No Paradise
2. Oh, Katrina (Interlude)
3. No Future
4. Anthem For The New Millennium Generation
5. Corporate Rock Still Sucks
6. John Ashcroft Was A Nazi (Interlude)
7. Marc Defiant
8. No Borders, No Nations (Live)
9. 1 Trillion Dollar$ (Live)
10. Turncoat (Live)
11. The Project For A New American Century (Live)
12. 911 For Peace (Live)

Pittsburgh trad-punks Anti-Flag have made their name with blistering political screeds condemning neo-fascism, corporate greed, and warmongering; but their new EP, A BENEFIT FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME, hits closer to home. Bassist Chris#2 recently lost his sister to violent crime, leaving a band with broad concerns to ponder a far more personal tragedy. Their solution was this limited edition EP, a mix of new and live tracks, the proceeds from which go to the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime. What could be a somber affair opens up with the triumphant sounding "No Paradise", a classic punk barn-burner in the mold of the Clash or Rancid that takes a look at the state of the world. Other songs reference American tragedies like the war in Iraq or Hurricane Katrina, but the overwhelming mood is one of defiance, most clearly displayed on the final studio track, the appropriately named "Marc Defiant." Anti-Flag could have curled up and hidden from the horror of losing a loved one, but instead they're raising their fists in the air.

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Tracklist
1. I'd Tell You But...
2. The Press Corpse
3. Emigre
4. The Project For A New American Century
5. Hymn For The Dead
6. This Is The End (For You My Friend)
7. 1 Trillion Dollar$
8. State Funeral
9. Confessions Of An Economic Hit man
10. War Sucks, Let's Party!
11. The W.T.O. Kills Farmers
12. Cities Burn
13. Depleted Uranium Is A War Crime

Pittsburgh punks Anti-Flag take on subjects like the Iraq war, the World Trade Organization, and uranium-tipped bullets in a set that's as full of energized rock & roll as it is of committed political diatribes. "Hymn for the Dead" packs a caustic lyrical punch, while "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" crams a wealth of political theory into a slamming slab of punk rock.

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Tracklist
1. Turncoat
2. Rank-N-File
3. Post-War Breakout
4. Sold As Freedom
5. Power To The Peaceful
6. Mind The G.A.T.T.
7. You Can Kill The Protester, But You Can't...
8. When You Don't Control Your Government...
9. Wake Up!
10. Tearing Down The Borders
11. Death Of A Nation
12. Operation Iraqi Liberation (O.I.L.)
13. One People, One Struggle
14 Fuck The Flag

 Intital pressings of THE TERROR STATE include a bonus track entitled "Fuck The Flag."

Over the course of numerous uniformly excellent albums, Anti-Flag has established itself as one the most musically accomplished, intelligent, and passionate politically inclined punk bands on the hardcore scene. Unlike similar groups, whose knuckle-headed propagandizing rarely gets beyond well-meaning but simplistic sloganeering designed more to incite unrest than to solve problems, the Pittsburgh-based foursome carefully considers its viewpoints before committing them to wax (to the extent that each song is accompanied by an explanation complete with bibliographical references).

Musically, Anti-Flag takes cues not only from old-school masters like the Exploited and the Descendents, but explores advanced harmonic and rhythmic territory that recalls everyone from the similarly minded Rage Against the Machine to legendary Canadian prog-rockers Rush. Of special mention are Chris #2's snappy basslines, which often drive the songs in Bruce Foxton (of the Jam)-like fashion. With super-clean production that rivals the output of any major label wannabes, THE TERROR STATE ups the ante for socially conscious punk by infusing the oft-tiresome genre with welcome doses of spirit, chops, and musical inventiveness.

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Tracklist
1. 911 For Peace
2. Mumia's Song
3. What's The Difference?
4. We Want To Be Free
5. Nbc (No Blood-Thirsty Corporations)
6. Right To Choose
7. We Don't Need It
8. Anatomy Of Your Enemy
9. Underground Network
10. Tearing Everyone Down
11. Bring Out Your Dead
12. A New Kind Of Army
13. Their System Doesn't Work For You
14. Free Nation
15. Spaz's House Destruction Party
16. Die For Your Government

Political punk rock has always felt pressure from society because of the extreme reaction many have to extreme political ideas. A good example of this situation was what Anti-Flag went through in the wake of the September 11th tragedy. Their name was viewed as "un-American" by many, and they found themselves on the receiving end of a minor album ban. On top of that, their anti-violence stance was very unpopular in the revenge-happy environment immediately following the attacks. Although it wasn't nearly as widespread as what some musicians had felt, it was enough to inspire them to address the issue on Mobilize, the first album they released since the incident. Brimming with anger, "911 for Peace" is one of the most literate songs to address the topic yet. Where some musicians simply mourned for the city or called out for blood, Anti-Flag took a stand and called for an end to the "eye for an eye" mentality that hit the nation. Of course the song never really took off (it was released for free on their website), but it fits in nicely with the punk rock anthems following it on the album. They address a number of other political topics throughout the album, including corporations, abortion, and carefully choosing who builds the future. Not every song has the insightful lyrics of "911 for Peace," but Justin Sane was never a Jello Biafra waiting to be discovered. Instead, the approach is similar to Ian MacKaye's Embrace project, spelling out the message with little room for subtlety or humor. But this is much more in tune with the innovators of punk rock, making hundreds of candy-coated bands floating around the underground just look silly. On top of that, the band writes songs that are easier to remember and absorb than anything it's done before. The album isn't a landmark, but instead it is a solid document from a band that continues to improve with every album. [Some copies of the album include a sampler from Anti-Flag's own A-F Records.] ~ Bradley Torreano

Anti-Flag's newest full-length since selling 75,000+ in ten months of their fourth album Underground Network on Fat Wreck Chords. Special because it features 8 new studio tracks including '9-1-1 for Peace', Anti-Flag's statement regarding the hideous September 11th attacks on the United States, plus 6 live recordings of Anti-Flag classics including 'Die for the Government', 'A New Kind of Army', and 'Underground Network'. The live portion was recorded as a time capsule regarding current world events and the Anti-Flag punk community. Includes free 21 tracks A-F Records Sampler CD included in this release. Anti-Flag Records.

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Tracklist
1. Angry, Young And Poor
2. This Machine Kills Fascists
3. Underground Network
4. Daddy Warbux
5. Vieques, Puerto Rico: Bikini Revisited
6. Stars And Stripes
7. Watch The Right
8. The Panama Deception
9. Culture Revolution
10. Spaz's House Destruction Party
11. Bring Out Your Dead
12. A Start
13. Until It Happens To You

As WTO has proven, the revolution will indeed be televised, and judging by Underground Network, Anti-Flag's anthemic songs will be wafting across the frontlines. From their earliest days, the group have worn their politics proudly on their sleeve, a shared belief which has seen them through lineup changes and expansion from trio to a quartet. Some things have changed over time, however, both sonically and lyrically. After several label moves, Anti-Flag are now happily denizened at Fat Wreck Chords, a melodic punk home far removed from their early purer hardcore sound. The sea change in style was evident on A New Kind of Army, and now crests in an ocean of powerful pop-punk melodies, which bind them firmly to the Southern Californian sounds of their labelmates. That said, Underground Network contains more than enough pugilistic hardcore to keep their old fans loyal, as well as enough echoes of punk's past to capture old-school geezers' hearts. It's this solidifying meld of styles past and present into a unique sound of their own that is making Anti-Flag such a force to be reckoned with in the punk scene. Lyrically, the group are maturing by leaps as well, as they turn anger to action. It's a multi-pronged attack that combines giving voice to society's ignored and oppressed, while also educating the listener. "Veques Puerto Rico: Bikini Revisited," for example, not only musically expresses the band's outrage that this small, inhabited island is used as target practice by the U.S. Navy, but gives further details in the liner notes, and even includes website addresses for reports and studies of its effects. Underground Network's melding of political awareness and anthemic songs is an exhortation to resistance, a manifesto set to music, packed with passion and information; in all, the perfect revolutionary handbook. - Jo-Ann Greene

The 13 songs on this album are a call out for unity, an attempt to put a stop to mindless nationalism and educate the punk rock masses! All the sing along choruses that Anti-Flag have become known for, laid over a sonic masterpiece! Including 'Angry, Young and Poor', 'Daddy Warbux' and 'Spaz' s House Party'.

Recorded at Sonic Iguana Studios, Lafayette, Indiana between November 1, 2000 and February 3, 2001.
Personnel: Justin Sane (vocals, guitar); Pat Thetic (drums, percussion).
Recording information: Sonic Iguana Studios, Lafayette, IN (11/01/2000-02/03/2001).
Anti-Flag includes: Chris Head, Justin Sane (vocals, guitar); Chris (bass, background vocals); Pat Thetic (drums, background vocals).
Engineers include: Mass Giorgini, Fergus Daly, Donnie Switchblade.
Alternative Press (7/01, p.58) - 7 out of 10 - "...Harmonically ambiguous; like classic Police songs, they don't commit to a definite mood..."
CMJ (4/30/01, p.11) - "...The kind of punk rock that manages to be provoking yet non-assaulting....imparting liberal-minded ideologies..."

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Tracklist
1. I Can't Stand Being With You
2. Their System Doesn't Work For You
3. We've Got His Gun
4. Born To Die
5. The Truth
6. You'll Scream Tonight
7. Indie Sux, Hardline Sux, Emo Sux, You Suck!
8. Anti-Violent
9. 20 Years Of Hell
10. I'm Having A Good Day
11. I Don't Want To Be Like You
12. Too Late
13. I Don't Need Anybody
14. Betty Sue Is Dead
15. If Not For You
16. Meet Your Master
17. We Won't Take No
18. Save Me
19. I'm Feeling Slighty Violent

2000's Their System Doesn't Work for You resurrects the nine tracks from 1998's limited-edition EP, North America Sucks, and adds ten previously-unreleased, later-vintage tracks for good measure. The songs from the EP are prime Anti-Flag, political punk that never loses its sense of humor even when making its most important points. "Indie Sux, Hardline Sux, Emo Sux, You Suck!" decries the Balkanization of the D.I.Y. scene in the '90s to the album's catchiest chorus, while the title track and "Anti-Violent" take aim at the usual suspects. Unfortunately, with only a couple of exceptions, the later tracks sound like half-baked filler; indeed, the beyond-lo-fi sound suggests that they might be rough demos not originally intended to be heard outside the band, a supposition backed up by the lazy, sluggish performances, and meandering song structures. There are a few promising tracks among the dross, particularly "Betty Sue Is Dead," which makes incredibly effective use of an old-school punk-reggae middle section in the style of the Ruts, but overall, the second half of Their System Doesn't Work for You doesn't work for anybody. - Stewart Mason.

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Tracklist
1. Tearing Everyone Down
2. Captain Anarchy
3. A New Kind Of Army
4. That's Youth
5. No Apology
6. Got The Numbers
7. No Difference
8. I Don't Believe
9. Right On
10. What You Don't Know
11. Outbreak
12. Police Story
13. The Consumer's Song
14. This Is Not A Crass Song

As obnoxious and confrontational as ever, Anti-Flag leave no doubts about which side of the fence they're on with A New Kind of Army, the follow-up to their cult hit, Die for the Government. Their style isn't markedly different, but it will definitely please the genre faithful. - Steve Huey. 

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Tracklist
1. You'd Do The Same
2. You've got To Die For The Government
3. Drink Drank Punk
4. Rotten Future
5. Safe Tonight
6. Red White And Brainwashed
7. Davey Destroyed The Punk Scene
8. Summer Squatter Go Home
9. She's My Little Go-Go Dancer
10. Police State In The Usa
11. Punk By The Book
12. Fuck Police Brutality
13. I'm Being Watched By The Cia
14. Kill The Rich
15. No More Dead
16. Confused Youth
17. Your Daddy Was A Rich Man, Your Daddy's Fucking Dead

Admittedly, it's strange that an old school-sounding punk trio would criticize punk scene denizens thusly: "Covered in leather, or plaid patches, or metal studs/Your hair is dyed or spiked with glue/You only talk to those who look and act the way you do/You scoff at how the cops treat you/But they're no worse than dicks like you!" ("Punk by the Book"). It's even more strange in light of Anti-Flag's Discharge/Rancid haircuts, a dog collar, and even a shirt that says "destroy." But since they point out that what you think is more important than how you dress, fair enough, because they carry on a more crucial custom: warning MTV-polluted, 85-TV-channel youth that punk means doing something productive instead of being passive or getting drunk and into fights, and becoming aware of politics and history is a prerequisite before bitching about the government (such as the Pentagon's attempts to pretend there is no Gulf War syndrome, as Anti-Flag points out). Criticism from within is the only kind that's listened to. As well, on songs such as "Safe Tonight" and "Police State in the U.S.A.," Anti-Flag tosses up the kind of vintage, early-'80s, So-Cal, melodic punk that B.Y.O., Frontier, Posh Boy, and other labels specialized in, and a ska song is welcome. - Jack Rabid, All Music Guide.

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