“Every 17 minutes, at least six Americans lose a loved one to suicide, for a total loss of life to suicide of more than 30,000 people each year.” That’s what reads inside the cover of this 2 volume compilation of artists, coming together to contribute to The National Hopeline Network, a suicide prevention and crisis hotline network.
This compilation packs a punch while delivering badly needed money to a good cause, one that greatly affects our younger generation in addition to those that have left us before their time.
Ranging from punk, indie/art rock, nu-metal and emo core, the range of bands is extensive and across the board. Not being a big fan of the last two genres listed, my favorites would be The Kicks, Squad Five-O, Against Me!, Go Betty Go, Ted Leo/The Pharmacists, NOFX, The Break, Pedro the Lion, Murder By Death (which sounds oddly like XXXX), Now It’s Overhead, Melee, and The Briggs.
The Sub City label itself stands out like a shining star in the materialistic and sleezy world of the music business. Five years ago Louis Posen, founder of Hopeless Records, created the sister label Sub City to raise money and awareness in a philanthropic fashion. Using their stable of Hopeless bands, the label has released 28 albums and donated over $400,000 to charities. They also sponsored a national tour that took many of the featured bands on the road, raising over $150,000 for The National Hopeline Network.
When Posen and his crew finally get to bed at night, one can assume they have no problem sleeping. Hopefully their efforts and persistence in making money for a cause an integral part of a business model, will give others the incentive to do the same.
