Various Artists - Take Action! Volume 3

The successful Take Action! Tour was started a few years ago as an outlet for artists to raise awareness for the prevention of treatment suicide and depression, especially within the teenage population. This is the third installment of Sub City's Take Action! compilations, and if you're into the emo/hardcore/punk scene, I dare you to find a better compilation for your buck this year. 44 songs and 44 artists span the double disc album, featuring scene staples such as Poison the Well, Thrice, Thursday, Boysetsfire, Shai Hulud, and Every Time I Die rounding out the obviously harder disc of the set. The Ataris, Yellowcard, Rufio, Further Seems Forever, The Jealous Sound, Curisve, Elliott, and Small Brown Bike, among others, make disc two worthy. And if you're looking for young blood and fresh meat, Jupiter Sunrise, Silverstein, Break the Silence, Rise Against, Paint It Black, Avenged Sevenfold, Statistics, Melee, The Explosion, and The Bronx are some bands you've probably haven't heard of yet. Even Asian Man Records' own Mike Park contributes to the record with his solo rendition of "On That Stage" to close the whole thing out. If this wasn't a benefit album, I would say that this album has its fair share of bad music, but the purpose of the project was to include a wide variety of underground artists so that more money can be put towards a good cause, which is very respectable in my book. As stated, you're not going to find another compilation this year whose quality is actually worth more than what you're paying. This double-disc set retails for around $6, and part of that goes to The National Hopeline Network, so you'll be helping both your ears and a worthy cause; it's a win-win situation at the record store. [www.subcity.net]