Back To The Bus is a compilation series with tracks put together by a band (in this case, Funeral For A Friend), based on what they are playing on their tour bus whilst out on the road.  It’s quite a nice twist on the premise for compilations and if the artists choosing the songs are one of your favourites, it might offer further insight into their musical influences. 

This is the third release in the series, coming after The Paddingtons (who ??) and The Babyshambles (less said the better…it’s not like they need even more publicity). 

According to Ryan Richards, drummer for Funeral For A Friend, the songs represent the various moods on the bus…with “a bit of Queen for party time, a bit of Boston for some air guitar action, a bit of Megadeth for some headbanging and a bit of Johnny Cash for some chillout time and everywhere in between”. 

As you can see, that makes for a fairly eclectic mix of songs and styles, which is perhaps where this type of compilation either really succeeds or really lets itself down, depending on your point of view. Personally, whilst I do not particularly like many of the songs on offer, I think the overall premise is a good one…heaven knows there are enough compilations out there of the same type of music, so it’s quite a refreshing change to have a complete mixture, even though you are never going to please all of the people all of the time with such a diversity of styles. 

If you take a glance at the track listing, most people will be familiar with several tracks, but not necessarily the same ones, based on your particular favourite style(s) of rock. It’s therefore interesting to check out the ones who aren’t so familiar, as it could just unearth that gem of a track / band that has somehow slipped you by. 

The retail version of this CD will also contain an exclusive Funeral For A Friend live track and an interview with the guys in the band…another nice addition to the overall package. 

If I was a Funeral For A Friend fan, then this would be an interesting release and I will be keeping an eye open for other editions in the series to see who gets to pick their tour favourites in the future.

Let us know your views on 'The Great Leap'

Track List

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
Dub War - Enemy Maker
Earthtone9 - Tat Twam Asi
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
Filter - Take A Picture
Boston - More Than A Feeling
Van Halen - Ain't Talking 'Bout Love
Far - Water And Solutions
Megadeth - Holy Wars
The Haunted - Bury Your Dead
pantera - Mouth For War
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Longview - Further
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues