The European Poppunk Virus

So if you're familiar with this blog you'll know I've been critical about the U.K. for the state of their punk scene. Well while at Insubordination Fest I picked up two free cd's at the merch table titled, "The European Poppunk Virus" and "The European Poppunk Virus - Vol. 2". I should point out that a lot of the bands on it are not from the U.K., but from various other European countries, but nonetheless I was still intrigues to listen to it.


The Manges were the most recognisable band to me on either of the cd's (they appeared on both of them). An Italian band who I knew of as the band who split an album with the Queers on 2003's "Acidbeaters", I previously mentioned a cover of Cheap Trick's "Surrender" that they did on that album. Their song "I Will Always Do" is also covered in it's own right, by Screeching Weasel on the album "Teen Punks In Heat". Volume one contains their song "Do The Loser" which sounded like the typical pop punk/ powerpop song on the album, and reminded me of the songs that are on the new Leftovers album . But Volume 2 contains the song that really stood out for me, "Long Way Back", a heartfelt song that sounds like it could have come off of one of the better Screeching Weasel albums.

Germany's Sonic Dollsalso grace us with their presence on both volumes, their song on volume one is titled "Dance With Me Tonight" which based on the titled I assumed would be another one of these poppy "ask a girl to dance" songs that have been done to death. But I was surprised when I heard it, and can now claim that it packs the most punch, and is the most punk flavored, of all these songs since The Ramones cover of "Lets Dance" some 30 something years ago. As is the case with the Manges, volume two contained the Sonic Dolls better song as well, "The Teen Age". I'm having trouble describing it because I can't really think of a band's sound to compare it to. On the bands myspace they include "Ramones, Agent Orange, Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, Vibrators, Screeching Weasel, Queers, Apers" under the sounds like section, but it's hard to see anything more than influence. On these two songs at least, the band has an original sound, which is somewhat of a breath of fresh air in the current state of punk rock.

3 1/2 Inch Floppy wins the award for most out of place song, with "This Wouldn't Have Happend To Bob Dylan", an acoustic song with heavy use of violin (hey it worked for Green Day). In this case the song seems more appropriate on a post-punk compilation, but it sounds really good, and is a nice break from a lot of the generic pop punk songs. Unfortunately it is 3 1/2's only song on either disc, and the band does not have a myspace page, so it's hard to gage their sound any further. Apparently the members have started a new band Zatopeks, who also appear on the comp, with another interesting but not really punk sounding song "Devil In a '55".

Other bands worth mentioning that do a good job on the comp are the Dirtshakes, Stinking Polecats, and The Retarded. But the band with the best songs on the compilations is easily The Travoltas.


The Travoltas are from The Netherlands and play a nice style of pop punk that doesn't suggest they are just trying to ape another band. Their songs "Oh Suzy" and "Nail You" just have so much energy, and lyrics much more lyrically major than almost another band on either cd. To here "Oh Suzy" which already has enough plays to climb onto my itunes "Top 25 Most Played" would alone meritt spending a few dollars to get one of the albums, but for the 0 dollars and 0 cents I payed for it, it can't be beat.