Fearless Records’ “Punk Goes…” series hasn’t always been welcomed with open arms by critics but with this being volume four of it’s “…Goes Pop” collection, it’s clear that fans continue to eat up these compilations that have never really been all that “Punk.”

The money-spinning fourth volume is your usual mix of post-hardcore, screamo, and (accessible) pop-punk bands putting their own spin on a number of radio hits over the last twelve months or so. 

As always there is a mix bag, some of the offerings on show are truly disastrous but are expected from the band performing the cover. For example For All Those Sleeping’s take on Taylor Swift’s “You Belong To Me” keeps the bright, feel-good chorus of the original, but unfortunately mix it with horrible electronic swirls and heavy, nasty breakdowns that ruin the chance of the cover becoming passable.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the tracks that shouldn’t work but somehow do. Pierce The Veil’s cover of the breezy “Just the Way You Are” is an early highlight and takes Bruno Mars’ summery pop and transforms it to an upbeat, thriving take and allows the San Diego group to leave their own mark on the track. In addition, you have to give credit to vocalist Vic Fuentes for doing this, as he exceeds and surprises on here.

Like previous “Punk Goes…” releases, their are tracks that scream out for the skip button. Whilst the original version of Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” is a personal guilty pleasure, Woe, is Me’s cover is truly awful and messy. The same can be said for Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!’s version of “We R Who We R” (originally by Ke$ha.) With it’s pounding drums, and heavy guitars, it is slightly expected from this Hardcore/Pop-Punk band.

Don’t get me wrong, there is your fair share of enjoyable tracks here; A Skylit Drive’s “Love the Way You Lie” (Eminem featuring Rihanna), Go Radio’s cover of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” and surprisingly, Sleeping With Sirens’ cover of “Fuck You” are all passable and show each band in a strong light.

In addition, Australian female-fronted Pop-Punk band Tonight Alive pull off Mumford & Sons’ “Little Lion Man” brilliantly with soaring, passionate vocals courtesy of Jenna McDougall. Whilst Silverstein’s decision to cover the album version and not the single version of Kanye West’s “Runaway” is interesting but if you ignore the guest vocals from Down with Webster, the Canadian group contribute an admirable take on the eight-minute track.

Love it or hate it, “Punk Goes Pop Vol. 4” is another intriguing collection that holds a mix bag of stand out and avoidable tracks. Fans of the previous installments will more than likely enjoy what is on offer here, whilst those who have given up on the series, will struggle to forgive Fearless for their past mistakes. 

Overall the same blueprint has been followed with the same lack of stand out tracks for a faltering compilations series.

3/5

“Punk Goes Pop Volume 4” is available now on Fearless Records.

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Words by Sean Reid (@SeanReid86)