It seems like not too long ago I received my first Tooth and Nail compilation, and to be honest with you it has been almost nine years, which was entitled I'm Your Biggest Fan and it never left my compact disc player. Shortly after that T and N decided to start releasing compilations under the name Songs From The Penalty Box and it would be these compilations with these bands that completely changed the music I listened to, and the way I viewed it. Regardless of what you may think of the label now, they were pioneers in a musical culture that was stale. Their bands opened my eyes to a whole new musical culture/scene that I never knew even existed and I am still gladly part of today as I write this review.
It has been two years since the last volume of Songs From The Penalty Box was released; in its place is the compilation The Nail. Volume One featured older material like The Juliana Theory's "Duane Joseph" to more recent artists like Anberlin's "Ready Fuels." There are no punches pulled in the second installment of The Nail it is pretty much the same line up with a few exceptions.
There is pretty much something for everyone and that includes the good and the bad. Further Seems Forever gives us a glimpse of what is to come on Hide Nothing with "Someone You Know", while Project 86 prove that they are back with the rock on "Spy Hunter." Emery really shines with "Ponytail Parades", while we see a cleaner, poppier but still heavier Underoath resurface with "Reinventing Your Exit." mewithoutYou give us their take on post-hardcore/rock with "Gentlemen" and Dead Poetic counter with a more melodic sound but still heavy guitar driven rock with the self-titled track from their sophomore release New Medicines.
The Martin brothers check in, Ronnie Martin's Joy Electric contributes one of the most accessible and enjoyable tracks I have heard from him in a while with "Song For All Time" from Hello, Mannequin. Jason Martin's Starflyer 59 gives us a dose of guitar heavy vintage Starflyer with "Wake Up Early" from The Portuguese Blues album. Bleach's "December" is pop rock done right while Watashi Wa's "The Air I Breathe" is pop rock not done right.
Like I said there is something for everyone, including the bad, Hawk Nelson do their best MxPx impersonation with "California" and it is just awful. There is rock done badly with Spoken's "Falling Further" and then there is rock done really badly with Thousand Foot Krutch's "Rawkfist" and this song is almost comedic in a sense. FM Static's "Definitely Maybe" is catchy but in a bad way like a rash and Ace Troubleshooter's "Jasmine" is just mundane.
There were also a few sleepers like Aaron Sprinkle's acoustic "Really Something" from Lackluster and "Captivated" by Slow Coming Day that have been getting played over and over again. Much like a mix CD made by a friend there is the good, the bad, and the so-so, fortunately this disc has enough of the good to make it a strong compilation. Let's just hope that Tooth and Nail inspires and entertains for the next decade.
2.5/4
