Tim Armstrong's Hellcat label unleashes the fifth volume in this wildly popular compilation series that acts as a label sampler, a taster for new and forthcoming albums, as well as a showcase for smaller acts, and further endearing itself to fans by bundling in a bumper crop of previously unreleased tracks. From the get go Give 'Em the Boot, Vol. 5 has been a labor of musical love, and even if there are only 18 bands included this time around (the fourth volume stuffed in 26) quality makes up for quantity.
Armstrong's own band
Rancid kick off the proceedings, with bandmate
Lars Frederiksen and his side project
the Bastards appearing later in the set. As always, there's a clutch of well-chosen numbers from Hellcat stalwarts, including the
Dropkick Murphys,
the Slackers, and
Tiger Army, with
Orange unleashing a previously unreleased song.
HorrorPops,
Left Alone,
Nekromantix,
the Aggrolites, and
Time Again offer up scintillating cuts from their new albums, and a whirlwind of styles as well, from
the Banshees-go-hardcore of
HorrorPops to the speedcore-billy of
Nekromantix, and back in time for the funky '60s-labored
the Aggrolites, to the modern
punk sounds of
Left Alone and the
Rancid-esque
Time Again. The unreleased tracks are just as diverse, encompassing the surfs-up sounds of
Los Difuntos, the trad Jamaican stylings of
Westbound Train, the aptly monikered
Heartbreakers inspired
the Heart Attacks, and onto the slash and burn hardcore of
Static Thought. As always, it's the eclecticism of the music that reflects the label's own, as well as
Armstrong's own distinctive taste. And it's inevitably excellent at that, which is why the label and this notable series remains so highly esteemed. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
