Side Walk Slam

Offering up an excellent example of pop punk done right, the young members of Indiana’s Side Walk Slam have succeeded out-MxPx-ing MxPx on this, their third release. Where many prominent pop punk groups have crumbled into shadowy parodies of their once-great selves, Side Walk Slam have stolen from the greats to form their own blend of bouncy, happy punk rock for the kids. From the well-produced sound, courtesy of ALL’s Bill Stevenson, to the energetic kick of the poppy songwriting, …And We Drive succeeds in showcasing a band at the top of its game. More impressive is the fact that the band lost its lead singer and songwriter before sitting down to write the songs that would appear on this album. Enter Josiah Curtis, the group’s bassist, on lead vocal and songwriting duties. An admirable achievement for such a young group, Side Walk Slam seem poised to take back the crown from pop punk’s ailing kings.