Punchline

Winning the $25,000 grand prize from Heavy.com allowed Punchline to part ways with Fueled By Ramen and release Just Say Yes themselves. With the supposed "artistic freedom" that comes with true independent status, it's disappointing that their fourth full-length is spotty at best. "My White Collared Shirt" sidles up next to Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag" to glean any nuggets of wisdom that one hit wonder status has to offer. With a whiny chorus declaring, "All of my friends should get with all of your friends," they get awfully close. On other songs ("Ghostie," "Punish or Privilege") they merely teeter along the border of mediocre pop punk blandness. However, on the title track and "The Other Piano Man," they show glimpses of what they're capable of. The former is a downtempo song led by a simple bass line and drum pattern, leaving room for the vocals to play with the subject of falling in love for the first time; it's a trite topic, perhaps, but one that all can relate to. And as the song comes to an end, gang vocals add a new layer before fading away. Unfortunately, these moments of promise are sparse but perhaps can act as a springboard for release number five.