Ticket To Ride: A Benefit For Your Local Skate Park – Album Review
Let’s cut to the chase: Ticket To Ride: A Benefit For Your Local Skate Park isn’t just another rock album; it’s a chaotic love letter to skaters, punks, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. Released in 2000 by Spills Records (props to Indonesia for keeping it real), this compilation is a wild ride through hardcore, alternative rock, and punk vibes. It’s messy, raw, and unapologetically loud—kind of like your teenage years but with better riffs.
Now, let’s talk tracks. Out of the whopping 18 songs on this thing, two stood out enough to make me want to throw my headphones across the room—in a good way.
First up, "Skateboard Is Not A Crime." Yeah, you heard that right. This track hits harder than a security guard confiscating your board at the mall. The energy? Electric. The message? Simple yet rebellious. You can practically smell the grip tape and hear wheels grinding against concrete while listening. If this song doesn’t make you grab a skateboard and attempt an ollie off your mom’s flower bed, then I don’t know what will.
Then there’s "Drunk With Power," which feels like chugging Red Bull mixed with adrenaline. It’s fast, aggressive, and kinda unhinged—like when you’re arguing politics at 3 AM after one too many beers. The vocals are raspy as hell, and the guitar work sounds like someone set their amp on fire. But damn if it doesn’t slap. I mean, who hasn’t felt drunk with power at some point? Maybe not literally, but metaphorically speaking, we’ve all been guilty of flexing our “expertise” in random arguments. This song captures that vibe perfectly.
The rest of the album has its moments too. Tracks like "Forever Stand Undivided" bring the unity anthem vibes, while "Dosa (Hellokittyforhipmetalmix)" throws curveballs so wild they shouldn’t even work—but somehow do. And let’s not forget "Dirty M.I.L.F." because apparently, no skate park benefit is complete without a cheeky nod to questionable humor.
What makes this album special isn’t just the music—it’s the attitude. It’s scrappy, imperfect, and full of heart. Like a DIY ramp built from stolen plywood, it might wobble under pressure, but it gets the job done. Plus, knowing it’s raising money for local skate parks gives it extra street cred.
So here’s the kicker: In a world where playlists are curated by algorithms and genres blend into mush, Ticket To Ride reminds us why music matters. It’s not about perfection—it’s about passion. And honestly, if more albums had titles like A Benefit For Your Local Skate Park, maybe people would stop being such squares.
Final verdict? Turn it up loud, crank up your board, and remember: life’s a grind, but so is good music.
