Various Artists - HEMPilation 2: free the weed

Arizona Daily Wildcat

HEMPilation 2 is the second benefit for NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) released on Capricorn Records, the label most noted for signing Omaha heroes 311.That particular pot-pushing group, while making an appearance on the first HEMPilation, is a notable absentee on this release. There aren't really any big names on here at all, for that matter.

Perhaps it's because of the fact that a musician recording a song for the sole purpose of advocating drugs is, to an extent, an obviously stereotypical self-parody. In a way, the whole idea behind this CD, like its predecessor, seems rather juvenile.

Of course, most bands that feel passionately enough about the legalization of marijuana to go out and dedicate their time to it aren't the ones who are putting out quality material in the first place.Plus, when the best a release has to offer is a Willie Nelson song, a previously released Fun Lovin' Criminals track and Spearhead doing a nearly straight cover of Steve Miller's The Joker, the result isn't much more exciting than you'd predict.

There's a bit of cool funk here, but HEMPilation also tends to focus on country and alt-country rock, not exactly your typical college student's stoned-soundtrack of choice.

If you really want to support the cause, you're better off just sending in a donation directly. If you buy the CD, someone's going to make a profit off it, and they don't really deserve it.- doug levy