Various Artists - Hopelessly Devoted To You vol. 4 (2002)

The roster at Hopeless Records grows more impressive and varied with each sampler in this series, and Vol. 4 is probably the best yet. Several of the bands here are a bit heavier-sounding and more hardcore than on past Hopeless samplers. Against All Authority – a generally average, political, ska-punk band – has one of their best songs in the previously unreleased "Out a Luck". There's a groovy emo song from Samiam, "Look No Hang"; a catchy pop-punk tune from Digger, "The Ninja, the Pinto, the Dan Marino"; a very fun, spastic romp from Selby Tigers, "Cheerleading Is Big Business"; and a couple of unusual, karaoke-sounding numbers from Atom & His Package. Surprisingly, two of the lesser efforts are from a couple of acts featuring members of once pivotal bands from the celebrated East Bay punk scene. Jesse Michaels, the singer and songwriter behind Operation Ivy, has not lived up to his legacy with his less-than-thrilling Common Rider, represented here by the ho-hum "Small Pebble". Common Rider sounds like very watered-down Operation Ivy with practically all the inspiration drained from them. And Jeff Ott, who sang for the once-brilliant Crimpshrine, offers up the cornball, PC, acoustic tune "Who's Your Daddy", which is a rotten song whether one agrees with the sentiments of the lyrics or not. But these two misfires are exceptions amongst an entirely solid lineup of punk rock.

~ Adam Bregman, all music group

Tracklist:

01. Thrice - Betrayal Is A Symptom
02. Avenged Sevenfold - Second Heartbeat
03. Against All Authority - Dinkas When I Close My Eyes
04. Common Rider - Small Pebble
05. The Weakerthans - Past Due
06. Atom And His Package - Upside Down From Here
07. Mustard Plug - Not Enough
08. Samiam - Look No Hand
09. Digger - The Ninja, The Pinto, The Dan Marino
10. Selby Tigers - Cheerleading Is Big Business
11. Scared Of Chaka - Glass Socket/Broken Jaw
12. Mustard Plug - Away From Here
13. The Weakerthans - Aside
14. Atom And His Package - Possession (Not The One By Danzig)
15. Against All Authority - Out A Luck
16. Jeff Ott (of Fifteen) - Who's Your Daddy
17. Avenged Sevenfold - Darkness Surrounding
18. Thrice - Hideous Strength

Source: HR662-2 [QW 662 70]
Release Date: Juny 25, 2002
Label: Hopeless Records


Hopelessly Devoted To You vol.1
Hopelessly Devoted To You vol.2
Hopelessly Devoted To You vol.3