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Don't let the spit-and-snarl of Against
All Authority fool you. These guys have
just enough awareness of what makes a great pop
song to put together punk rock that's catchy without
being sugary, and still retains an authentic sense
of anger at the injustices that have been fueling
punks since the seventies.
"Lied To," "War Machine Breakdown"
and "Barricades" are straightforward
enough political-punk songs, but "World Dominator"
throws in a splash of Latin rhythm and a sing-along
chorus. In general, AAA has got enough anger to
keep them going and keep their music feeling genuine,
but enough musical variety to keep them from getting
redundant.
Normally, you don't see split EP's with defunct
bands, but Common Rider deserves
to be the exception, since it was the project
of Jesse Michaels from Operation
Ivy. Who'd let that unreleased material go to
waste? Common Rider provides a nice counterpoint
to the caustic style of Against All Authority,
with more straightforward rock-and-roll, occasionally
tinged with reggae and not leaving behind their
punk roots.
Common Rider feels Californian, and not just
because their songs are titled "Where the
Waves are Highest" and "Dogtown."
It's slower, funkier, smoother; the sounds of
a boardwalk against an ocean rather than a dirty
city street, but still with the same attitude.
It's sad to see that Common Rider are officially
over, since they made catchy punk outside of the
formulaic stuff we see so much of these days.
www.hopelessrecords.com
-Sarah Jaffe, May 6, 2005
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