Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 6

Ever since the Ramones cut a revved-up version of the Chris Montez oldie "Let's Dance" on their groundbreaking first LP, the Germs played a purposefully twisted version of the Archies' "Sugar Sugar" in 1977, and the Dickies covered the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" on their sophomore album in 1979, there's been a long history of punk bands putting their own spin on hooky hit tunes. In 2002, Fearless Records released Punk Goes Pop, with a fistful of punk, alternative, and metal bands finding new sounds in radio-friendly pop hits, and 12 years later, the series is still going strong with Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 6. This installment includes August Burns Red delivering a ferocious interpretation of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," Ice-T joining Upon a Burning Body for a rap-rock attack on DJ Snake & Lil Jon's "Turn Down for What," a guitar-driven remake of Lorde's "Royals" from Youth in Revolt, Palisades finding a dark electronic undercurrent in Pharrell Williams' "Happy," We Came as Romans filtering Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" through their own metalcore approach, and eight other hits dressed up in fresh and fearless rock-oriented arrangements. ~ Mark Deming