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New band showcase!

The Eastpak Antidote Tour is pretty much the European version of the Vans Warped Tour, which also has a compilation available on Side One Dummy Records. In the same way that there are only half the shows (still an impressive 25 dates), there is just the one CD packed with 25 bands from the tour.

Starting with the fast high-tempo melodic rock of Engerica's song 'Road Kill', we then have Warped Tour alternative punk gypsies Gogol Bordello, before the slightly indie-electro sounds of Brandston take us off to another place, showing just how diverse the Eastpak tour is with a definite British sound.

The brilliant Danko Jones give us Jet-verses with Feeder hooks and choruses, following Disco Ensemble's slice of Screamo. Mike Park sounds a little Billy Bragg on 'Keeping this Set Warm', and things stay mellow with Portugal The Man with vocals a little like Billy Coogan. With a great title of 'There'll Be No one Clapping Hands At The End Of The Play', She-Male Trouble are one of those bands that surprises. With screaming female vocals nodding towards the Joan Jett and Julliette Lewis sound and a fast rock and roll beat it's a true delight.

Having already had the pleasure of reviewing The King Blues' album, it is good to see them here with their reggae song 'Mr Music Man'. The reggae turns to ragga with an elctro beat with Pato on 'Cemetary' which if hadn't followed The King Blues may've sounded like it gate-crashed this compilation. The brilliant Gigantor give us some dirty rock in the vein of Backyard Babies, whilst Zox give us some ska, elsewhere there is the catchy 'Faded Away' by Sun Eats Hours.

Capdown give us their usual blast of punk, whilst John Kastner has a catchy little number that is reminiscent of the more commercial Foo Fighter's songs. Last song 'Ghost In The Bottle' by Versus The World could well be on a soundtrack with that middle of the road rock feel.

Whether it's a good or a bad thing this compilation has a whole mixture of different genres and bands which is fine, but when you also have bands that for the most part are still in their musical infancy, then it's hard to know who will buy this album. There isn't enough British bands with the guitar driven indie-sound to shift units over here, nor is there enough catchy, punk, or emo-tastic rock to catch the hearts of the American kids. Yes, if you've been, or are going to one of the 25 shows on the tour then you may wish to buy this, but in all honesty I'd buy a handful of band's albums instead.

With a lack of real big guns here (alright Capdown may fall into this category), and no real connection musically, what you get is a sampler of bands around today, and who knows maybe you'll love it! However, whereas it's cousin The Warped Tour album was packed full of punk, and emo, along with more than half a dozen big names on two discs, here I'd feel just a little short-changed.