UMUR
"My Poland Collection" is a compilation album by Danish heavy metal/ thrash metal act Red Warszawa. The album was released in October 2006 by Gusten Fætter Records. We´re not talking a compilation album in the conventional sense, where a band (or a label) typically pick a band´s "classics" from all previous releases and compile them on an album. All 16 tracks on "My Poland Collection" are re-recorded versions of tracks from the band´s first four albums and a single track from the band´s fifth full-length studio album "Return of the Glidefedt (2004)". I guess the band felt that the latter was still so new at the time, that they didn´t feel the need to re-record more than "Gratis Luder" ("Free Hooker") for this compilation. In addition to the audio CD there is also a DVD with promotional videos included on the compilation. The title of the compilation refers to the fact that the band usually dub their music "Polish Punk". The punk element isn´t that strong in the band´s music though which is more a blend of heavy metal, crossover and groove thrash.
As with all compilations you can always discuss if the band have picked the right tracks for the release, but I think the 16 tracks on "My Poland Collection" covers the band´s output pretty well. We are treated to Red Warszawa "classics" like "Norsk Black Metal" ("Norwegian Black Metal"), "Slå Ihjel" ("Kill"), "MC Nymand´s Rap", "Ulrikkenborg Plads" and "Bøsse Dræbt med Stegegaffel" ("Gay Man Killed with Carving Fork"). While the re-recordings certainly have improved sound quality compared to many of the original recordings, I must admit that I prefer the original versions, which I simply feel have more soul.
The promotional videos on the DVD part of the release, are as low budget as they get. Complete with wacky humour, ugly costumes and handheld camera the band have created some pretty entertaining videos IMO.
If you are not familiar with the five first albums by Red Warszawa, "My Poland Collection" is probably a good introduction to the wacky and bizarre Red Warszawa universe. Personally I enjoy the release but would actually have prefered a compilation with the original versions instead of with the re-recordings. A 3 - 3.5 star rating is warranted.