You just have to dig for it.
None of this directly leads to an examination of Another Shot for Bracken (1986), but the compilation, which was released through 7 Seconds’ record label, grants listeners a wide ranging taste of what was going on in the underground. Of course, not every genre is represented over the 17 tracks here, but there’s more than just hardcore.
It’s not a standout track for any reason other than the fact that it’s the album’s oddity, but Scram works up a reggae version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The band doesn’t seem ill suited for the task. While discussing the drawbacks of ‘80s music, though, it’s worth noting that most of the Jamaican related stuff released anytime after ’83 or so really suffers from a variety of problems. Most apparent here is the fact that a buncha white punkers just aren’t able to inject too much soul into the proceedings. It’s not a comment on Scram’s musical ability, just that the band didn’t generally work with these tropes. So, even the familiar portions of Lennon’s song are rendered in a lilly white, throw away manner. ‘E’ for effort, though.
Another Shot for Bracken also sports its fair share of nonsensical ‘80s hard rock stuff – not dissimilar to what SSD figured out over there in Boston. And at this point in time, those tunes are only really enjoyable, because the band’s back-catalog has ingratiated itself to the masses. The Brigade might be the most egregious example of this here. Over most of the other offerings that approach hardrock tropes – Short Dogs Grow and the Sins specifically – The Brigade chooses to eschew almost all of punks past. It’s not exactly Krokus, but it’s worth skipping.
With Adrenalin O.D., 7 Seconds, Flag of Democracy and Youth of Today the compilation is rightly perceived as a hardcore focused release. And as the songs whiz by, the ‘80s style positive force hardcore stuff seems as vital as it ever did. Beginning the album FoD gifts listeners with the two minutes of “The Family Knows.” The burst of speed that propels the track forward after its drum intro hints at what’s next.
A few bands move beyond expectations even as they’re each able to maintain at least a portion of hardcore’s history in its song-craft. 5 Balls of Power and its “Radio Station A.S.O.L.” work out a skewed rhythm while keeping pace with the faster offerings. Verbal Assault, on the other hand, contributes something that might have been befitting of a latter day Fugazi disc. It’s still tied to ‘80s rock stuff, but odd in its tone and construction.
There seems to more to be confused about here than ecstatic. But either way, Another Shot for Bracken is worth a listen or two.