REVIEW: Various Artists, Heal the Bay (Mojo)
- Andrew Duncan
Last year we received the pleasure of experiencing the second volume of Music For Our Mother Ocean. This CD was a project to help raise money and benefit the improvement and beautification of the California coastline. Artists like the Butthole Surfers, Beck and big names like Brian Wilson, Jimmy Buffet and Paul McCartney, among other artists, contributed to the cause. Unfortunately, as the reader, we receive all of this proprietary information in advance and never get to read about the results. How many copies did the benefit compilation sell? How much money did the organization raise? What really was benefited?
Well, here we go again ... another benefit compilation titled Heal the Bay.
Heal the Bay is a non-profit environmental group dedicated to making the Santa Monica Bay and Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for the marine life living in it and the people who use it.
Heal the Bay, the benefit compilation is a two-CD set featuring a kaleidoscope of artists contributing rare, unreleased, pre-released and live material. In weight this 28-song compilation outdoes most benefit compilations, featuring the latest in ska, punk and electronic musicians.
Not every song will be a winner, but that probably depends on the person's taste in music. CD1 captures artists like Blink 182 and their live jumpstarter, Dammit," the indie rock of Weston and their perception of "Liz Phair" and the booty-grooving rhythms of Hepcat with their live version of "Positive. There are the odd ones out - such as the beat heavy rhythms of David Holmes, "Gritty Shaker" and the ethnic jazz/hip hop techno of Ozomatli and their remix of "Super Bowl Sundae."
CD2 takes its own course, blending in punk bands like Bad Religion and MXPX with punk-ska bands Goldfinger, Dance Hall Crashers and Less Than Jake. The Rentals offer a break from the tug of war. However, their previously unreleased "Simple Life" really doesn't sound good as it would alone.
The compilation ends on a mellow note. As the firelight flickers on the ocean waters and the moonlight shines down with the subtle, salty breeze blows upon the shore, the Venice Beat Club closes the night down with "Venice By the Sea." Just remember to pick up the trash before you leave.
