Take Action!, Vol. 6 in Bloomington, MN

Another year, another
Take Action!
compilation. The fight against suicide will, unfortunately, never be over, so it's at least nice to see charitable people like those at
Hopeless
and
Sub City
consistently doing their part to raise awareness on the subject and provide resources for those in need. To do so, they've rounded up another diverse collection of songs spanning
punk
,
emo
indie rock
in the early 21st century, drawing listeners in with tracks from old favorites alongside the ripe opportunity to discover new loves. A PSA from
the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
opens
Vol. 6
's first disc (
Rise Against
handles disc two's intro). The music then launches forth with
My Chemical Romance
's dramatic
"This Is How I Disappear,"
followed with strong showings by
Senses Fail
(
"Calling All Cars"
),
Paramore
(the sweetly urgent
"Emergency"
) and the sisterly, slightly haunting
pop/rock
of
Meg & Dia
's
"Monster."
Even
All Time Low
's quintessential
pop
-
"Coffee Shop Soundtrack"
) is a good time. The disc's early melody eventually drops into much heavier terrain, ending with cuts from
metal
hardcore
acts like
Drop Dead, Gorgeous
In Flames
Into Eternity
, and
Misery Signals
. The stronger of the two discs, the second offers up excellent tracks from relative
veterans like
the Casualties
Anti-Flag
, and it's actually kind of funny, the placement of
No Trigger
"Bust Tropical"
right before
Strike Anywhere
's heartfelt
"Instinct,"
because for second, you'd swear they were the same band.
The Falcon
Heavens
carry the flag for well-done side projects (of
the Lawrence Arms
/
Alkaline Trio
, respectively).
Indie pop
shines with songs by
the Hush Sound
"Wine Red"
Lakes
"Indian Lover"
) and
Copeland
"Control Freak"
), while
Damiera
lends the vaguely
Coheed
-esque
"Via Invested"
These Arms Are Snakes
' snotty
"Horse Girl"
goes down with a nice chaotic punch. With partial proceeds going to charity,
compilations have always been great investments (and small ones at that with price tags under $10). And with this year's bonus DVD of practically 30 music videos to go along --
Emery
Hellogoodbye
Converge
Murder by Death
Set Your Goals
among contributors -- there's really no easier way to help a great cause and sample some great new music at the same time. ~ Corey Apar