V/A – (Coles) Notes From Underground
(Underground Operations)

Underground Operations is an independent punk rock collective. Underground Operations seems to be making conservatives a little bit nervous. Underground Operations is seriously considering not going to church this Sunday.

These are the types of silly little mock-propaganda statements that are scattered throughout the Underground Operations website and the liner notes for this cd. This fledgling record label, based in Ajax, Ontario, is quite clearly concerned with political struggle and social debate, if not from a literal standpoint, then at least from an aesthetic perspective.

They have put together a compilation that contains music from 4 different bands (2 songs from each), and looking at the cover artwork and song titles you’d think these guys are all trying to single-handedly save humanity from every evil that has been witnessed throughout the history of the world. Whether or not they actually are inspiring independent thought and political change remains to be seen, but at the very least they’ve managed to package the concept of revolution with promotional skills that would make The (International) Noise Conspiracy proud.

As you might expect, this disc contains two tracks from Toronto’s (now defunct) political punk rock legends, Marilyn’s Vitamins. “The Executions of May 16th 1998″ is a song that previously appeared on their hard-to-find Meanwhile During The Class War EP, and “One For The Road (A Boy And His Chemical Dependency)” is, as I understand it, a previously unreleased song. Both songs are exactly what you would expect from Marilyn’s Vitamins: raw, snotty punk rock. I have to admit, it’s cool to hear Colin Vitamin’s angry mile-a-minute vocal delivery again. As much as I’m not a huge fan of pissed-off political punk rock, Marilyn’s Vitamins were a pretty special band, and these two songs alone will make the compilation worth owning for many people.

Marilyn’s Vitamins fans will also be interested to hear two songs from another band on this disc called Bombs Over Providence. Featuring ex-members of Marilyn’s Vitamins, this band maintains the socio-political focus that the Vitamins were known for, but has adopted a more emotional and complex sound. In hearing their two tracks I am instantly reminded of bands like Boysetsfire, d.b.s. and Braid. This is definitely the highlight of the compilation.

Closet Monster are the third band on the cd, and they have definitely improved a lot since some earlier recordings I had heard from them. They still have a faint pop-punk sound, but it is often hidden behind overpowering group-chanting and anthemic choruses. Sum 41 meets the Dropkick Murphys perhaps?

The other band is called Protest The Hero, from Whitby, Ontario, and to be honest they are my least favourite of the bunch. They seem to be more rooted in the “hardcore” genre than the other three bands. There’s just a little more screaming and an unabashed thrash/metal influence here, not to the point where it’s intolerable, but their songs just didn’t stand out to me.

This cd is pretty good. This cd probably will not spend an excessive amount of time in my personal cd player. This cd did not blow my mind, but can be expected to put smiles on the faces of more than a few punk rock kids.

Since listening to this cd I have noticed that I am starting to partake in many rebellious acts that I wouldn’t otherwise do. I am seriously considering drinking milk straight out of the carton. I am seriously considering wearing non-matching socks. I am seriously considering sleeping in tomorrow morning. — Sean