Anti-Capitalsim (Anarcho-Punk Compilation Vol. 4)

The fourth and final volume in Overground's so-highly acclaimed anthology of anarchist-punk collections zeroes in on 23 sometimes stunning, occasionally sluggish, but never less than startling slabs of 7" and 12" vinyl, that once again run the gamut of the movement at its peak. In terms of name recognition, everyone's here -- Conflict, who open the show with "Mighty and Superior," Rudimentary Peni ("Teenage Time Killer"), Anathema ("Your Ulster,") and Crass, the daddies of the entire scene, who deliver a previously unavailable version of "What Do You Want," and whose Penny Rimbaud contributes some scene setting liner notes, recalling a time when punk rock meant so much more than hairstyles, fashion and MTV. As with the other volumes in this series (Anti-War, Anti-State and Anti-Society), Anti-Capitalism is not necessarily the easiest listening material, even for converts. Even more than the initial punk explosion from which it developed, the very nature of the anarchist-punk beast demanded that its doors be open to anyone, regardless of what they wanted to say, and how they wanted to say it. But stumbling, slobbering ineptitude really is in the ear of the beholder. Crank it up, open all your windows, and give the neighbors a taste of music that really, genuinely means something. They might thank you for it later. ~ Dave Thompson|