Damn - New York has got it going on, and this post-9/11 collection of music definitely carries the pulse of a city revamped and overhauled!

Dare I say this is the greatest representation of bands since the Undead and Adrenalin OD, were kicking about with Even Worse and The False Prophets back in 1982! And while NYC has cleaned itself up a bit since the sullied '80s, listeners are still treated to the sniveling sex-starved underbelly of the Big Apple, evidenced by Sex Slaves ("2 AM"), who seem inspired by the New York Dolls and Hanoi Rocks with just enough of the trying cock-rock swagger of Guns 'N' Roses and LA Guns to get the chicks. And then there's Queen V, who grant a nice old-school punk tune called "Good Girl Gone," outdoing any number of Squatweiler or Sahara Hotnights-inspired bands.

I could listen to this entire comp over and over and not get tired of it, but the uppermost highlights come sporadically. You must hear the pop-punk of the Detox Darlings ("7 Songs In the Jukebox") -- who offer a sequel of sorts to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" anthem - and the outrageous novelty quality of the female-fronted Skum (the simply stated "Big Black Cock"). And you shouldn't overlook Pisser, who sound like Alice In Chains-meets-Jackyl-meets Sea Monster ("Wifey"), or the Slags and Starr, who both border on metal (with the former coming off like a dirtier version of Soundgarden).

Still, my real favorites are Joker Five Speed's "Destination: Meltdown," which just kicks ass, straddling the thinnest line between foreign-punk like Negazione and the Resistors and straight balls-out metal, and Slunt, who write a wry, witty, revenge tune about the power of girls with some great harmonizing back-ups ("The Best Thing"). Lastly, I highlight Banana Fish Zero, who have one of the worst names I've ever encountered, but do The Offspring better than The Offspring do, with a gritty, streetwise demeanor and some abrasive production -- none of that high-gloss bullshit! They also steal the album with the line: "I might be drunk, but you're way too sober." With that in mind, let this comp intoxicate you with some kick-ass, jagged punk-rock!

ES3