Rough Edge: Various Artists: Music From the X-Games 3 CD Review

VARIOUS ARTISTS

"Music From the X-Games, Volume 3" (Mammoth; 1998)

You'd think that, based on the extreme sports this CD is supposed to represent, "Music from the X-Games, Volume 3" would be a high energy affair that would fill get your blood pumping and, at the very least, your toes tapping.

Sadly, such is not the case.

Oh, there's an occasional burst here. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones start things off lively enough with "The Impression That I Get" and Pennywise's "Society" and Pantera's "I'm Broken" are, as you might expect, strong. The Dropkick Murphys deliver a dose of their unique energy with "Road of the Righteous" and the cover of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" by Fu Manchu isn't bad (but it ain't that great, either).

But that's less than half of the tracks on this CD and the rest just aren't up to "extreme." Fatboy Slim's "Going Out Of My Head" is sleep-inducing and Days of the New, 311, and The Charlatans UK don't do much better with their tracks. Even the Descendents' "I'm the One," while a perky enough tune, doesn't have the solid kick of some of the band's other material.

I guess if you're watching a video of guys riding skateboards and moto-cross bikes, the music on this CD would feel more exciting. Without that visual aid, however, "Music from the X-Games, Volume 3" is just so-so.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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