disappointing
Punk goes Pop is my favorite album, so my expectations were way high for this one. It was such a disappointment. This music just didn't do it for me which is sad because 90s music is my favorite.

"Punk?"
I was very disappointed by this CD. First of all, most of the songs that are covered had no business being punk-i-fied in the first place. Second, most of the songs are nearly identical to the originals. Third, some of the songs are so slow, the word "punk" sticks in my throat when I try to say it. The bands had an opportunity to amp up some balladish songs and failed. Here's my opinion on the songs:

1. March of the Pigs: 2/5 Sounds good, similar to NIN, Mae didn't add too much to me.
2. Song 2: 3/5 Why, why, why would they do a punk cover of an already fun, punkish-pop song? Sounds exactly the first, but since the first version is really good, hence the 3 stars.
3. Under The Bridge: 4/5 The more you listen to this cover it is actually good. The Gym Class Heroes add enough to make it different but don't ruin the original amazing song. But punk? Not sure about that.
4. Black Hole Sun: 1/5 Should have stayed in the hole. Is slower than the original with none of the rock sound. Disappointing.
5. Hey Jealousy: 2/5 OK, but sounds a lot like the first one. Hard to do much with an already good song.
6. All I Want: 1/5 Slower (if possible) than the Toad version. Huh?
7. Losing My Religion: 5/5 The album's saving grace. It ROCKS! It's catchy and hardcore, and definitely does not sound like REM. This is the type of song I expected for the rest of the album.
8. Wonderwall: 1/5 Adds a slight kick to the original but not enough.
9. You Oughta Know: 4/5 Again, great song to start with and the Killing Moon does a nice job putting a punk spin on it.
10. Stars: 1/5 A bit better than the 1st, but still kinda boring.
11. Enjoy the Silence: 4/5 the only other song I really liked in its "punk" version. Awesome song to start with, catchy, techno-ish version.
12. Beautiful People: 3/5 3 stars because it's a cool song on its own, but the cover added nothing--not that it should or could have.
13. Big Time Sensuality: Didn't know the 1st one, so it's hard to rate. Not really a fan of this version either.
14. In Bloom: 3/5 Another song that seems strange to include--what more can you do to a song that already rocks? But the cover band did not ruin it, to their credit.
15. Jumper: 2/5 I was hoping for a fast, interesting version. Nope. Step off the ledge.

My advice: do NOT waste your money on this CD. Just download the Scary Kids, Scaring Kids "Losing My Religion" if you're an REM fan. Or, buy the albums with the original songs.

Could have been Better
Fearless Records has been putting these compatibles out for years, having today's up-and-coming artists cover songs that have been populer. But in this release the songs are better left with the original artists. While it features Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy" done by Hit the Lights, Copeland's version of "Black Hole Sun" and "Gym Class Heroes" doing a version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' ballad "Under the Bridge" they all are typical and lacking excitement.

One of the only highlights of the album is Killing Moon's version of Alanis Morisette's "You Oughtta Know" with their male frontman singing about Full Houses' Uncle Joey going down on him a a theater (although I don't like it as much as 1000 Maniacs' version). So They Say's version of Nirvana's "In Bloom" probably has Kurt Cobain turning in his coffin. So, over all, this album, in my opinion, could have been better.

:(
I figured this album would be awesome...but the song choices aren't too great. Most of the songs are pretty good and everything but some of the ones they chose aren't even big hits of the 90s. This cd was somewhat of a disappointment to me. I only enjoyed about 1/2 of the cd. Hopefully the next punk goes...isnt horrible. I was actually looking forward to this cd to coming out to.

Good But Not Punk
The name of the CD is misleading, the artists performing the covers are not really punk bands. I still enjoy the cd, its different, I've been pretty impressed by all the covers. Hearing each artists way of remaking the songs is pretty cool, and hearing some new twists to some old favorites. So as long as your not looking for a "punk" cd this is actually pretty good.