Various Artists – Red Scare Industries: 20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming

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Starting a record label isn’t for the faint of heart. So much can go wrong, really fast, if you’re not equipped with the right people around you to make it thrive. Luckily, Red Scare Industries isn’t in this category of failing labels, as they are now celebrating 20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming, the cool new compilation that features key artists like The Menzingers, Laura Jane Grace, Sludgeworth, Heart & Lung, No Trigger, and so many more great bands on this 17-track disc. Red Scare Industries has reliably introduced fans near and far to bands that they feel are worth their time, put on killer live shows, and have the musical chops to make you want to reach for that repeat button. While some various artists compilations are good for a spin or two to discover a new band every now and then, this particular collection of songs feels like a punk rock party that is sure to make you wonder just how Red Scare was able to pull this off.

The compilation opens with some speedy punk rock from bands like The Falcon and Won’t Stay Dead who hit their intended targets on “Book of Dead Names” and “Ex Machina” respectively. Cobra Skulls get into a great guitar-driven groove on “You Know I Know” that reminded me of classic Social Distortion paired with the vocals of Bayside. Dead to Me follows this track nicely with the picturesque storytelling found on “Don’t Be Mad,” while Nothington hit just the right tone on “Aware” that is perfect for fans of Allister and The Explosion.

The middle section of the compilation never loses momentum with the sweet, punk styling of Heart & Lung on “Big Yikes” that I remember being introduced to by label owner Toby Jeg with a charming email, with plenty of trademark humor, to ensure that I would take a chance on the band. No Trigger is another one of those bands that grabs you by the throat and never lets go with their energetic performance on “Super Beef.” Things take a brief reprieve to the moody vibe on Sam Russo’s heartfelt ballad of “One Foot in the Grave” that showcases his vulnerable lyrics and gift as a songwriter. By the time the song reaches its crescendo, you’re only clamoring for more punk rock energy.

Good Friend delivers the punk rock goods on “Bonzo Goes To Breakfast” while arguably the most noteworthy name on the disc, Laura Jane Grace, follows with a fuzzy guitar jam in “Baby, Baby.” Laura commands the song throughout with grit in her vocals and some cool riffing to match. Sludgeworth is another band that makes the most out of this celebratory compilation with a late record standout in “Overpromised” that rocks out like classic Home Grown paired with Gob. The speedy punk rock of The Brokedowns found on “Cool Ranch” is a fun mosh pit anthem, while “DNR” by The Bollweevils features some great drumming paired with back and forth vocals in a crowd-pleasing rocker. The Lippies lead the way with an opening cheer found on “Host Bodies” and rock out like the next coming of Joan Jett paired the pop sensibilities of The Donnas.

The closing trio of “Traffic Haze” by Elway paired with the song I was most looking forward to, “Second City” by The Menzingers, makes the journey throughout the compilation all worth the time, while “Heaven (All Of It)” by The Holy Mess leaves the right taste in the listeners mouth with an energetic blast of music that is sure to stay with you long after the last note is played. Red Scare Industries have had a hand in a lot of these bands’ success in one way or another, and while this celebratory compilation shows the key relationships along the way, the music that’s included here makes the next 20 years of the label seem like a very strong possibility. The future is bright for Red Scare and they’re not going to stop until they get you to fall in love with one (or more) of their bands on their label.

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