Bouncing Souls

These East Coast oi-boys have declared this record, their fifth, the best album they've ever made and who am I to disagree with them? From the opening fury of "That Song," "True Believers" and "Better Life" through the more introspective mid-tempo Buzzcocks sound-alikes "The Something Special" and "Broke Record" to the deceptive acoustic guitar tinges of "Lifetime," the band sounds like one that's comfortable enough with itself to experiment with a sound that goes beyond the confines of punk rock circa 1977. The Bouncing Souls have always been one of the better bands playing this kind of retro punk. This album makes them one of the best.