Chixdiggit! - Born on the First of July CD I think Fat Mike's new label does have a "sound" to it. Not NOFX clones but a sweet seductive one you could suck on forever. If you want to hear more of the label pick up the sampler. But, Chixdiggit are some crazy Canadian's pushing out pop punk for the skate crowd. Slick, Diverse, and with a great big chew you'll be blowing big bubbles with your friends groovin' to this for a long time. Chewie! [Honest Don's Records]

Digger - The Promise of an Uncertain Future CD Hopeless knows how to find good skate punk and capitalize on it and they do a good job at it (finding good music). You cannot expect not to find a gem on anything they release is what I've found out just recently. This is soothing pop punk with lots of guitars and drums and a hum like no other hum. After reading the liner notes you can tell these guys put sometime into writing the lyrics unlike some bands who just write up whatever. Good tunes, good lyrics. [Hopeless Records]

Kid Icarus - Six Months Until You Leave Me CD I'm in love with Kid Icarus this is sensational pop-punk with a nerdy twist. (The lead vocals sound nerdy, but that's not bad, cuz they sound great!!) I don't even know if I should say that, cuz the vocals are perfect, they bring this pop-punk band to perfection. Songs about girls (broken hearts) and all that. Hmm, I wonder if these guys want to be the next Mr. T Experience? If they do, they are on the right track! This CD is so great, since I got it a month or so ago, I've listened to it a hundred or so times. Sensational, Sassy, Seductive and Attractive. That's what this band is. And, Andrew the guitarist is definetly Attractive! (smile) Definetly!! Hmm, I hope he's not scared to say Hi to me after he sees this... Sigh, Oh well. [Cut-Rate Records, cutrate@hotmail.com]

Nothing Cool - What a Wonderful World CD Nothing Cool are four fine gentlemen with kind hearts. I first heard about them when they sent a friend of mine a whole ton of free stuff and I liked them for that and for their music and their kind hearts. Not many D.I.Y. bands give out free stuff from their own pocket for the sake of being kind and not for the sake of hearing the cash registers roll in their dollars for their CD sales (They didn't have a CD out at the time). Nothing Cool are a cool combo of cali-punk and poppy schtufff. Eight songs filled with feeling of the cali-skatecore sense that I can recommend.[DummyUp, POB 642634, San Francisco, CA 94164-2634 / www.chickenisgoodfood.com]

Rancid - Life Won't Wait CD I admit I was mad when I saw Rancid on Rolling Stone. I realize they are just fashion punks in for their buck now and I don't give a fuck they can have it. This record is fucking amazing... You know their 80's punk filled with their very own taste/blend of ska to make them Rancid. Well, here it is again and way better. Their last record was produced to suck shit (and bucks) but this one they've gone back to making a good quality one since Let's Go or whatever you call it. Too bad people think this is punk though. I admit, it's damn good. [Epitaph Records]

Red Aunts - Ghetto Blaster CD Absolute trash. [Epitaph Records]

Remain - Self-Titled CD Holy Smoke-a-rama my speakers are blowin' flames! The lyrics are in japanese so for us 'americans it's going to be hard to decipher. Of course, unless you have a good hearing aid (cuz they sing in english, i think?? ha!) or know someone who knows japanese. Four songs of hardcore on this CD, kinda silly idea (the normal sized CD) though. I wish it was a Mini. [H.G. Fact/Japan]

Straight Faced - Conditioned CD Wha?? Why are these guys on Epitaph? Hmm, Fearless what happened? I don't mind though. This is still Straight Faced and they are about to rock the shit out of your speakers with their own hardcore with a cali twist of lime. When I hear this stuff though, I think Jocks and Repetition. I don't know why. That's not a swing at the band or anything, that's just what comes to mind. I don't really like hardcore but when you blend it with california like Straight Faced do, then you can call me a fan. [Epitaph Records]

The Queers - Everything's OK E.P. CD I'm confused by 4 song EP's, what's the point? Put atleast 6 songs on if you are going to bother making one! Anyways, this is The Queers. Haven't heard of them? Yah right! These guys are right below the Ramones in the punk rock pop sense. Pioneers of pop-punk. My favorite song is "I enjoy being a boy (in love with you)." If you like the Queers, this is another CD to consume, if you haven't heard them before it's even better because if you don't like it, no need to worry there is only 4 songs to flow through. [Hopeless Records]

22 Jacks - Over Served CD Joe Sib is one hot studmuffin! Mmm. Delicious! As much as Joe is tantalizing delicious, 22 Jacks somehow lost their pop and soothing character that once rumbled at my soul. I don't really know what to say about this record. Maybe, that these guys are more of a live band... Don't know... [Side One Recordings]

Welt - Broke Down CD Welt are a productive well achieved melodic punk band for the skater crowd. Well written and produced songs that mostly sound the same however, but that's not bad in their case. Welt are a very good melodically poppy band that probably have never had the chance to put out a bad song. If you like the Cali punk feel and sound, this is something that you would probably die for. Melodically powerful. [Dr. Dream Records]

Various - Hopelessly Devoted To You Too CD I have no clue what happened to Hopeless's last sampler, because it sounded like someone blew chunks! But, this one made up for it. Killer tracks from Against All Authority, Falling Sickness, Mustard Plug, The Queers and more. Also, comes with like ten unreleased tracks. [Hopeless Records]

Various - Punk-O-Rama 3 CD This is one punksplosive CD!!! Ka-boom punk rocks the ear lobes. Epitaph is growing their killer line up, which is amazing. Who would of thought before the big punk boom they would of put out good stuff like today?? NOFX, Pennywise, Pulley, Rancid, Dwarves, Down By Law, Osker and more. Killa! And, don't forget to check out that Osker track! [Epitaph Records]

Record Labels; If you wish to send a CD for review (2 copies, 1 for editor and 1 for reviewer), please e-mail the editor Brian Disagree of THOUGHT IS A CRIME for mailing information at: "bdisagree@sprint.ca" Thanks!