Since 1990, San Diego's Unwritten Law have released five studio albums, a live album (in 2003), and a greatest hits collection, which came out early in 2007 on Abydos Records. From the skate punk of their early days and the power pop of their peak years, to the hard rock (some say "post grunge") of their later material, it's all here among nineteen tracks, plus an unlisted twentieth cut.
Unlike a lot of bands who make you buy a best-of album full of songs already in your collection just for one or two new tracks, Unwritten Law decided to head into the studio and re-record fourteen of their best known and most beloved tracks. They also throw in two new songs here, and include three from their 2005 release Here's To The Mourning as is.
Not since The Cure recorded acoustic versions of eighteen of their best hits (as a second disc) over five years ago, has a band come up with a cooler way to both reward longtime fans, while summing up a long, fruitful career for more casual listeners.
With the exception of "Rest Of My Life," a Top 20 modern rock hit taken from 2003's live and acoustic Music In High Places, most of the new versions will sound slightly heavier than the originals. This is because the guitars and bass are tuned a bit lower (Eb tuning instead of the standard E natural tuning on most original versions).
Having said that, the arrangements of these songs aren't drastically different. The band is now a four-piece — after losing longtime guitarist Rob Brewer and drummer Wade Youman a few years ago. The latter was replaced by Tony Palermo of Pulley in 2005, and singer Scott Russo has taken on the role as the occasional second guitarist for the band.
Of all the redone tracks, perhaps the most improved of them is "California Sky," which is the second of three straight aces taken from Unwritten Law's best album, 1998's Unwritten Law. Loud guitars, light harmonics, a tambourine, and a much better guitar solo (by guitarist Steve Morris) than the original, makes this an instant standout. "Harmonic" is only different in that the intro no longer includes a last second tuneup. Palermo is as fast and aggressive as his predecessor here and elsewhere on the disc.
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