Various Artists – In Honor: A Compilation To Beat Cancer

As a reviewer, it is sometimes hard to review compilations that are for charities. You can’t just say “this cd sucks” without looking like an ass because of what the CD is for. In Honor: A Compilation To Beat Cancer doubles this problem since all proceeds from it will be split equally between two cancer programs, The Syrentha Savio Endowment and The Sean McGrath Fund; not just 5% which most compilations do. Luckily though, this compilation doesn’t “suck”. It is quite good. Sure, throughout the forty-two tracks split evenly across two discs, there are a few stinkers; more then on most compilations. But then, they have some good tracks too. Here’s a slight rundown of the two discs, the good and the bad.

Disc one starts off with a introduction from Dicky Barrett, the lead singer of The Mighty Might Bosstones. He sets the mood of the album, explaining what its for and the different foundations the money will be going to. After the message of thanks, The Descendents jump in with One More Day, which was released on Cool To Be You earlier this year. It is a good song about death and loss, so fits the album very nicely. Jawbreaker, Face To Face, and The Bouncing Souls all supply good, energetic live songs; where as My Chemical Romance give a absolutely horrible live version of Headfirst For Halos. Other standout tracks on this disc come from bands like Emanuel, Melee, JamisonParker, and Straylight Run, the last of the two giving acoustic versions of their popular songs while Melee gives a piano version of The War. Of course, there are a few songs which you will skip. I constantly find myself skipping over Thursday, Dolour, and Saves The Day‘s tracks.

Disc two kicks off with Thrice playing their popular Stare At The Sun acoustically; but for me, the real kicker is track two, I Hate This Stupid Bike by The Foreign Exchange (Featuring Sean McGrath).Taking Back Sunday gives the compilation an acoustic performance of You’re So Last Summer which they performed on 103.9 The Edge in Phoenix last winter. It is a decent song, but not nearly as good as the original. The best song on the disc, and the compilation, would definitely have to be awarded to Motion City Soundtrack with their acoustic version of My Favorite Accident. Funeral For A Friend‘s live version of Red Is The New Black along with The Loved Ones‘ Jane are also good tracks on this disc. Big D And The Kids Table send the album away with Moment Without An End, which is a perfect way to end the album. A great ska songs that leaves you happy and excited repeating the catchy chorus of “I want a moment without an end, I want to spend some time with my best friend“. Sure, once again they have weak songs here by bands like Moments In Grace, Fear Before The March Of Flames, Gatsby’s American Dream and Piebald; but you still can’t forget the point of the album. Sure, there are a few bad songs on here, and a few really bad ones; but you can’t bad mouth the motivation behind the album which was to help those in need.