It's like this; if you're going to make a compilation CD around Valentines day, it has to be a good one. Most Valentines day releases repeat material, endlessly boring us with sad love song after sad love song; a void that is supposedly filled by this compilation.'It's A Misery Business (anti love songs for the anti valentine)' is compiled of tracks from emo and rock, to metal bands ranging from Cobra Starship to Slipknot.
You cannot fault the cohesion of the album; it clearly has a target audience and has been assembled with that in mind – perfect for a brooding 15 year old who is currently hating the world whilst wearing far too much eyeliner.
Yet, aside from the new Nickelback track, I find it hard to believe that anyone tempted by this album wouldn't already own each and every song on it. A handful of tracks they have chosen are partially anthemic, Paramore's 'Misery Business' and Billy Talent's 'Try Honesty' for example, but to be frank, most of them are simply overrated, overplayed, popular in the moment and easily forgotten.
I don't dislike any of the artists chosen, I simply believe they have better songs to offer. All in all the album is largely disappointing.
At the risk of sounding distant, being well and truly mounted on my high horse, this album makes me want to rant. There is so much to offer from the alternative music scenes in this wonderful age we are living in; why do we have to put up with these mediocre, samesie attempts that record labels are offering? Give us something new and exciting to gorge our hungry ears on, stop following in the track of compilations of yesteryear and catch up with the youth of today.