Punk-O-Rama, Vol. 8 perfectly illustrates just how wide-ranging the music now known as punk rock has become. Over two discs, this volume of Epitaph's revered series presents everything from trad punk revival (
Rancid,
Bouncing Souls) and emo-inflected youthful exuberance (
Matchbook Romance,
Millencolin) to
Sage Francis' street level activism hip-hop and the avant punk of Sweden's
Division of Laura Lee. It's a little bit of the old, a bunch of the new, and a steal at only $6.98 list. ~ Johnny Loftus