Back in September, Lonely Ghost Records put out feelers for a compilation tribute album for Streetlight Manifesto. Before the day was over, it seemed like someone had requested to cover every song in the entire Streetlight discography. Now, 8 months later, that compilation is live, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. In April, Streetlight Manifesto announced that they are releasing a new album for the first time in 12 years, set to be released on June 24th, almost exactly one month after the release of the tribute album. So, for you Streetlight Manifesto fans who waited over a decade for new music, here is your opportunity to listen to a bunch of other bands play their takes on your favorite songs while you get hyped for next month’s new album.
It’s not unusual for ska bands to have a Streetlight Manifesto cover song in a live set, but what impresses me the most about this compilation is how few ska bands are on it. The genres of the bands on this compilation couldn’t be more diverse. The album starts off with a dubstep cover of “Keasbey Nights” by bash explodes and then moves on to an indie electronic lo-fi noise cover of “On & On & On” by Nelly was Nervous. Later, there is a chiptune cover of “Riding the 4th Wave” by gulfwargameboy. Tenlung covers “The Blond Lead the Blind” in an electronic hyperpop emo style, with aggressive vocal stylings, but if electronic music is not your thing, there are punk, ska, rock, cumbia, hardcore, screamo, and even country-inspired tracks on this album.
Part of me hates writing reviews where I talk about every song. Still, on a compilation album, it only feels fair to mention all the different bands that contributed, especially since this compilation, like all Lonely Ghost Records compilations, is for charity. The album is available for only $5 on Bandcamp, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. One of the most critical roles of music and art, in general, is to raise cultural awareness. Music is always political. In addition to the political statement inherent in the lyrics or style, music provides a platform for the artist. I am proud of Lonely Ghost Records for using this podium to raise money for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Still, I’ll get into more of that at the very end.
Abbi Cadaver’s hardcore screamo cover of “Sick and Sad” is as aggressive as any hardcore song, and they definitely made it their own, which is something I love in a cover song. The Winter Sounds is a lo-fi dream pop band based out of Czechia that did a phenomenal job with “Day In Day Out,” mixing and blending styles in a way that is even more creative than the original. Official Family Skeleton has an excellent punk cover of “9mm and a Three Piece Suit” with some terrific bass guitar. 99 Cent Fountain Drink does a slow, emo cover of “As the Footsteps Die Out Forever” that is as fitting a song choice and genre as any on the album. Oldphone teamed up with Superdestroyer to create a synth- and hyperpop-fused emo version of “We Are the Few.”
Do It With Malice features Bex Rose and Eric Molina on their cover of “If and When We Rise Again,” and it feels so damn aggressive while the horns nail the original version. The blending of the more aggressive drums and guitars with the absolutely top-tier brass section is phenomenal. I think my favorite song on the album is the cover of “The Saddest Song” by Indica in Decay. The electronic melodies work perfectly here; the dual vocals are blended amazingly and made their own in a way that works and begs me to join in. This is another track where the artist made significant alterations to the original song, shaping it in more than just adjusting the genre, and the change in pace feels fantastic. The longer the song goes on, the more liberty the band takes and the better it gets.
I love the Atlas & Oracle cover of Somewhere in the Between. Atlas & Oracle is a ska band, so you might think their cover of another ska band would be remarkably faithful to the original. However, they definitely made it more ska than the original, a little more laid-back and added some shakers and a tambourine. They jazzed it up while stripping it down. Hugo Skavez adds in a Cumbia version of “They Provide the Paint…” that does a phenomenal job of being familiar while significantly changing the genre in another one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Sean Anomaly does a fine acoustic cover of “Down, Down, Down to Mephisto’s Cafe.” Double He’ll Death Match does a lo-fi verbal track of “The Three of Us” with just vocals and a single percussion for rhythm, as these artists show off the most barebones version of Streetlight songs. The album ends with Ben E Wood covering “The Hands That Thieve,” an acoustic folk song that definitely feels like it has some country influences, standing out for its grandiose composition and vocal duets that make it feel more powerful.
This is a solid album, and while you’re unlikely to love every song due to the extreme variety in genre and style, you are sure to fall in love with a lot of these tracks. You’ll definitely discover a lot of new bands and perhaps even genres you’ve never heard before. This is a testament to Streetlight Manifesto bringing far and wide beyond just the ska scene and reaching audiences everywhere with something that people love.
There is an ongoing genocide in Palestine right now. Over 15,000 children have died as a result of this genocide. Many of the bombs that Israel has dropped have been bought and paid for by American taxes. Others from starvation as blockages prevent medical aid and food from reaching Palestine, as hospitals have been systematically destroyed, and homes and encampments are constantly destroyed. Our government will not listen to us as we demand our tax dollars stop being used to fund genocide and instead be used to help the victims of these heinous crimes. It now becomes incumbent on us to do what we expect our government to do and directly help those who are harmed by our government. The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund is one of the most effective organizations in delivering aid where it is needed. They have been able to supply food and medical supplies directly to the people in Gaza. By giving to them, we can help ensure that our donations have a meaningful impact. Short of giving directly to the person or families in need, this is one of the best ways we can help. By purchasing this album, you can actually help make a difference. You can also donate to PCRF directly at https://www.pcrf.net/
Written by Gimp Leg
