Pop Unknown – The August Division (Sessions): Three years since If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra was released by this immaculate quintet of power-pop indie rock, Pop Unknown crawls out of the hole in the wall to release a finely melodic and tempting album. With ex-members of Mineral and Imbroco, you can’t possibly go wrong. The disc is nice and tasty, and offers intelligent lyrics. However, according to their label’s website, they’ve called it quits. You’re thinking, “God, why do bad things happen to good people,” and I’m thinking, “God, why do good bands break up and bad bands get played over and over on TRL?” This trend needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. 5 Stars.
Lagwagon – Blaze (Fat): So these guys decide to one up Pop Unknown and release an album five years after their last one. But thank God they didn’t break up. Without Lagwagon playing their typical tight, kick ass punk songs and singing lyrics that range from thoughtful and provoking to metafictional, who else would fill the void? The boys—er, old dudes—are back, and they’re only getting better. In “Never Stops,” lead singer Joey Cape (also known as ‘the Caper’) sings, “Colors of democracy/fly from every SUV/The misspelled bumper sticker’s here/Where did all the honor students go?” One of the greatest songs of 2003 is “Falling Apart,” in which Cape sings about getting older. “Second verse, the same as the first/I forgot the words again/Railer, lost my inhaler/Who’s got a smoke for the Caper?/Hold on let me catch my breath/All right, I feel better now/Take it to the bridge.” Pure genius. 4 Stars.
Bayside/Name Taken – Split EP (Dying Wish): I have to commend both bands on releasing a stellar split EP. Every song is strong and vibrant in their own right. Bayside has more of an indie-punk sound. Standout lyrics are from “Cold and Blue and Lifeless”: “Couldn’t you just laugh until you choke? I wish you would so your face could match your eyes. Cold and blue and lifeless.” Nice touch. Name Taken, if it’s possible, has the better half of the disc. They’re a mix of Fairweather, Thursday, and Taking Back Sunday. This is one of the better splits to come out in a long, long time. 5 Stars.
The Ataris – So Long, Astoria (Columbia): Well, they’ve done it. They’ve fucking done it. The Ataris signed to a major label and somehow managed to record an excellent album. Chris Roe lays off the “girls suck” routine, and sings about all kinds of emotions. The layering of guitars and production value is impressive, but the greatest improvement is in Roe’s lyrics. Instead of singing about teenage heartbreak, he sings about missing his daughter while on tour, comforting a fan that is on her death bed, and pretty much Lagwagoning the whole album up with songs about finally being an adult. In “The Saddest Song” he apologizes to his five year-old daughter, and wonders, “Maybe someday you’ll really get to know me/not just from letters read to you/I pray I get the chance to make it up to you/We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” 4 Stars.
Nada Surf – Let Go (Barsuk): I don’t get it. Nada Surf releases High/Low and gain massive popularity off of “Popular.” High/Low is a great album with all kinds of catchy, hook-laden indie songs, but no one can get past that one song. The second release, The Proximity Effect, is not up to par with High/Low, but sounds a little bit more like Weezer. Yet, the band disappears for years only to release a really sappy, stripped-down, and introspective album. I admit I’m utterly disappointed in this release, but that’s because I had certain preconceptions. But don’t be fooled, there’s still life in these guys yet. 2 Stars.
