Rating: NNN
The first half of All Systems Go!’s 24-track Mon Chi Chi album features brand new songs that run the gamut from aggressive minor-chord growlers to candy-coated pogo anthems, with a surprisingly strong ballad in Meagan’s Law (with vocals by Melissa Auf der Maur) perfect for slow dancing with your punk rock sweetie. The second half, plundered from the All Systems Go vaults, was previously only available as an import. Normally so much material would be exhausting, but these pop-punk ditties are short and sweet and have enough compositional smarts to keep you tuned in. Plus, ex-Doughboy John Kastner and his band of rabble-rousers have a leg up on their punk-pop peers because of the variety of their songwriting. All Systems Go hit Dundas Square for the NXNE launch tonight (Thursday, June 5) at 5 pm and play Lee’s Friday at 10 pm
