Outtakes for the Outcast

Album Review

Outtakes for the Outcast is a collection of Sick of It All rarities culled from B-sides, soundtracks, and even an ancient bootleg tape. There's classicist New York City hardcore here, from the shoutalong vocals and crashing lead guitar line of "Soul Be Free," to the metal and hardcore hybridism of "86," which was recorded during the sessions for Built to Last. Opener "I Believe" is another highlight. But there are also Sick of It All'd versions of classic punk, Oi!, and hardcore material. There's a muscular take on Sham 69's "Borstal Breakout" dating from 1994; Hüsker Dü's "Target" gets the treatment, as does the Misfits' "All Hell Breaks Loose" and Last Resort's "Working Class Kids." It's nice of Fat Wreck to gather up these SOIA loose ends for all the completists out there. But what might make fans even more excited are the three previously unreleased tracks closing out Outtakes for the Outcast. "Never Measure Up" and "The Future Is Mine" are from a 2001 live set at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill, while the version of "Just Look Around" appearing here is a House of Pain remix from 1993 that was transferred to Outtakes from a bootleg cassette. With its telltale DJ Lethal production and, yes, vintage rap-rock sound, it's interesting, if somewhat dated stuff. But it's no match for Sick of It All's anthemic bash through Sham 69's "Rip Off."