This is the most original concept for an album that I've come across in a long while--brand new songs written by the Louisville emo group, Metroschifter, but performed by other bands. While unfamiliar with Metroschifter's sound, I was very familiar with a number of the bands that crank out the jive on this recording. Furthermore, and I must say that at points during the listening, I was fully aroused.

The Get Up Kids' performance of "Impossible Outcomes" stands amongst their better material, which says quite a lot being that practically everything they churn out can kill baby sheep with its greatness. Scott Richter's lyrics hit those same special places toward the back of my neck and in my chest as the Kids' own. Background vocals resound the foreground with, "It's unaffordable/ It's unavoidable/ It's inevitable/ Our eyes, hearts, and words are the evidence." This song alone is well worth the purchase of the disc--but wait! There's more! For the low, low price of $12.99....

As usual, the Promise Ring's song is damn catchy and damn good. Plus, this time around, they beefed up the sound with synthesizers. Sweden's Refused, in one of their final recordings, sing a soft acoustic tune rather than their usual innovative form of hardcore. Though the first time through I was waiting for the "GAAAA" and distortion to kick in, it's A-OK the second time. "Isn't Freedom A Poison?" is brought intense power by Elliott as slow waves of musical emotion are pulled taught, creating a tension that eventually snaps at just the right moment in a crescendo of driving passion. Other highlights include tracks from Ink and Dagger, the Enkindels, and Cooler.

Every song on Encapsulated has its merits, and one can easily see why Metroschifter picked each band. I'm not as down with the straight up rock and roll of Music Group or MT Rhodes and His Lonesome Woods Band, but they are solid musically and smoothly fit into the album's cohesive whole. The lyrics are consistently excellent, emotional, and touching. On top of it all, the photography in the booklet is truly beautiful.