If any current band’s singles deserve their own release, they are definitely those of Fucked Up. Having spent the first five years of their existence releasing only singles, Fucked Up understands the power of the individual song as well as the album, and consequently, have not released their newest singles compilation as a gimmick or cash grab. Couple Tracks is an impressive collection, and there are some gems in the batch that even most fans probably haven't heard. If you consider yourself to be of the Fucked Up persuasion, you should not miss this release. The casual listener might be less than impressed, though I have trouble picturing a casual Fucked Up listener. Assuming that you’re reading this review because you want to see as many people as possible publish praise for a band who you’ve seen live numerous times and who get your heart racing like few others, know that Couple Tracks is in no way a disappointment. Grab it and eat your heart out.

The compilation is divided into two discs, individually titled The Hard Stuff and The Fun Stuff. The first disc begins a rebel anthem entitled “No Pasarán”. In this case, the rebels are oppressed folk who stand up against their government. You just need to know that it’s the kind of fast, mosh-worthy punk anthem for which Fucked Up is famous.

All of the 2005 EP Generation is on this compilation, but of those three songs, “Ban Violins” has the best riff, and concludes with a strange tribal section. If you were ever curious as to how a 60’s surf rock song might sound if you had Pink Eyes sing it, “Toronto FC” is the song to satiate the intrigue. “David Christmas,” on the other hand, will answer your question of “what would a serious Christmas song played by Fucked Up sound like?” The answers to both of those questions are excellent in just about every way, though you might have seen that coming. Some great songs from Hidden World and Chemistry of Common Life are also here, including “Crooked Head (Video Version)” and “No Epiphany (Fast Version)”.

If you have a little over an hour to kill, and really want to murder it with the fast, upbeat, aggressive sounds of Fucked Up, this is definitely the collection for you. Don’t expect any of the instrumental breaks from the albums though, and don’t expect to find every song to be as brilliant as what you may have previously experienced.

If you’re curious about Fucked Up, don’t start with this singles compilation. There are two excellent LPs for you to test the water with, and hopefully those records will get you into a band whom so many have found irresistible. Once you’ve heard and thoroughly enjoyed the records, step two is to see Fucked Up in concert, and have one of the wildest evenings of your life. At this point you will find Couple Tracks to be rather appealing, and to your luck, you may find many of the songs excellent and worthy of multiple listens. Because there aren’t many bands that sound quite like Fucked Up, whose name alone will keep them out of the ears of many. A serious fan would be doing himself a favor by grabbing this compilation, and a prospective fan would be doing himself a favor by becoming a diehard. That is how things work in the world of Fucked Up. Strange, fun, and critically-acclaimed are descriptors that rarely go hand-in-hand with hardcore punk rock, yet Damien Abraham and Co. have screamed their way into this unique category. With a singles compilation to hold us down, all Fucked Up can do now is release another stellar record and never stop touring.

Track List:

Disc 1: The Hard Stuff
1. No Pasarán
2. Neat Parts (7” Version)
3. Generation (7” Version)
4. Ban Violins
5. Dangerous Fumes
6. Triumph Of Life (7” Version)
7. Fixed Race
8. Toronto FC
9. Black Hats
10. David Christmas
11. No Epiphany (Fast Version)
12. Crooked Head (Video Version)

Disc 2: The Fun Stuff
1. I Hate Summer
2. Teenage Problems
3. Carried Out To Sea
4. Looking Back
5. Anorak City
6. I Don’t Want To Be Friends With You
7. Mustaa Lunta
8. Dream Come True
9. Magic Kingdom
10. Magic Word (Daytrotter Version)
11. Last Man Standing (Year Of The Dog Version)
12. He’s So Frisky
13. David Comes To Life (Daytrotter Version)