Lookout! Freakout - 'Episode 3' (Lookout) Released 03/03/03

Run by Chris Applegren of The Pattern and Bratmobile's Molly Neuman, Lookout Records main oeuvre is spunky pop punk which is generally well served over 20 tracks on this bargain compilation. Sprinting promisingly out of the starting blocks, The Washdown's "Worst Dressed Up In Class" fizzes exuberantly by whilst Bratmobiles "I'm In The Band" is a Blondie tinged Riot Grrrl ode to womens right to rock. After Seattle's Pretty Girls Make Graves angular guitar rock followed by The Pattern's mod n'soul meets punk in "Fragile Awareness", you're thinking that Lookout could be up there with Rough Trade and Fierce Panda in terms of quality independent output.

But sadly it does drift somewhat aimlessly after the sharp opening with most of the remaining tracks either average (The Oranges Band, Yesterday's Kids) or down right formulaic and forgettable (One Time Angels, Ben Weasal). Still, for £4.99, this is ample and good value for money proof that there is life in the pop punk beast beyond your corporate shagging Sum 41's and Blink 182's.