Propagandhi

For young Canadian punks, Propagandhi's How to Clean Everything was a game-changer. Twenty years later, the band have progressed far beyond that album's pop-punk leanings and immature approach, but their overall spirit is, impressively, the same. This reissue has been given a remaster, which, for the first time in the history of remasters, makes a noticeable difference, with every instrument shining through more clearly. This serves to highlight how sloppy and loose the band were, at times, as well as also how impressive their guitar and drum chops were, even back then. While some of the goofier songs haven't held up, the more solid ones still sound great. Also included are three tracks that Fat Wreck Chord's Fat Mike took off the original pressing, all of which have been released elsewhere at some point: "Pigs Will Pay" and "Homophobes Are Just Pissed 'Cause they Can't Get Laid," are good, while the awkward "Leg Hold Trap" was omitted for good reason. Diving even deeper, there are four demo tunes of album cuts, which are a fun listen for die-hards. The impact of Propagandhi on the lives of those of us who were teenagers when this album was released cannot be understated, and it's a great deal of fun to hear it in a new light.