The funny thing about punk from earlier eras – or even this one, as evidenced by Green Day – is the fact that the political villains that are roiled in a buncha lyrics have largely disappeared by now. Specifically, the late ‘70s and ‘80s stuff is rife with blatant and somewhat unsophisticated screeds against whatever politician was at the time causing some punkers problems - whether real or imaginary.

What Americans forget sometimes is that while everyone was railing against Reagan during the ‘80s, there were Canadians who not only dealt disparagingly with its own politicos, but the society that lived just south of the boarder. It’s an odd cultural other, since in the States, south of the boarder denotes Mexican folks – but there are a number of instances on It Came From the Pit, a 1986 punk and hardcore compilation issued on Psyche Industry Records, where Americans are to be considered a troublesome clutch of weirdoes.

My Dog Popper is probably the most thoughtful group outta this crop of bands. That’s not to say that other ensemble’s are all dullards, but these guys are able to couple a wry wit with some relatively thoughtful standpoint to arrive at some just above average punk from the middle of the decade.

The first of two offerings from My Dog Popper, “Rock Stars are Assholes,” begins with an open slight to Jello Biafra. Apparently, the Dead Kennedys’ had at some point come through and noted that ticket prices were lower in Canada than in the States. My Dog Popper’s singer simply mentions that Jello and Company could charge less money for shows before moving into a song that focuses on the barter system that’s grown up around shows – getting on guests lists, bringing bands drugs and the minutiae of scene politics.

Following with “Equal Time,” My Dog Popper reams American culture making mention of everything from Geraldine Ferraro to the KKK having its rights being protected. Despite the fact that the band rips up K-Mart in ensuing lines, the fact that the ensemble saw fit to criticize the freedom of speech is laughable. Granted, in Canada, it’s not legal to purport that the Holocaust didn’t occur. And while the heart of it’s all in the right place, speech isn’t something that should be limited. So while My Dog Popper attempts to come off as some left wing saviors of the western world, the ensemble forgets about folks that don’t share the same values as band members. Oh well…

Unfortunately, while that group remains engaging based up its political agenda, musically it’s not too satisfying – nor is the rest of It Came from the Pit. SNFU turns in a Warren Zevon cover which sounds better in theory than in practice, while Nomeansno works in some odd funk stuffs on “No Sex.”

There really aren’t highlights here, just a steady level of adequacy with Sudden Impact contributing some metally hardcore and Count Down to Zero ratcheting up the thrash to hitherto unheard of territory. It’s all just worth a pass…keep on moving.