Rating: NNN
At first listen, you can’t help but be bummed out at these pioneers of slack punk’s processed-sounding concession to the times. But despite the clean sound, the lyrics are still fun and the songwriting is still rad, even if a couple of songs bring Bad Religion very close to mind. Although it doesn’t match the band’s peak, even falling somewhat short of their first release after reforming, Everything Sucks, people who worship the shoddy punk-pop of our day are basically obliged to buy this. The highlight is Mass Nerder, in which vocalist Milo Aukerman channels Darby Crash and repeatedly screams, “We must read,” ending the song by muttering, “Somebody get me a book!”
