Remodel

These days when poppy-punk bands are like sand grains, it's surprising this hard-pounding Orange County five has to sign to little, feisty, British Boss Tuneage. But maybe it's 'cause they're better than the dreary genre fodder clogging the Top 40! Lou Giordano, who produces half of this, knows a decent group when he records one, and the Tank is a streamlined, '00s-production update on All, Big Drill Car, Bad Religion, Offspring, and a punkier Weezer. The vocals are mixed higher than those bands, so the guitars' crunch is held back a little. But with their high-velocity melodies, slamming hooks, and ace in the hole prominent harmonies led by guitarist/singer Ross Levine (bizarrely moved to drums after this LP was finished!), they're more Promise Ring meets Cheap Trick (this is the best cover of 1977's "He's a Whore" since Big Black's!) than Fall Out Boy. Ripping.