Things Are Not All Right

Formed by the husband and wife team of Bill (vocals/drums) and Lisa (guitar/backup vocals) Roe, Chicago’s CoCoComa churns up a powerful brew of sweaty, hard-hitting garage punk. Blending the madman fury of the late, great Lyres with the swagger of current bands like the Ponys and the Hives, their second album is a near-perfect distillation of melody and volume. Bill Roe uses his voice like an instrument, all jagged edges and deep-reaching blows, shadow boxing with Lisa’s efficient, compact-yet-powerhouse chords. “Water Into Wine” and “The Right Side” are gloriously punk-derived tracks, but  “It Won’t Be Long” has more of a new-wave revival feel, and hints of cow-punk fuel the incendiary “Never Be True.” Mike Fitzpatrick’s vintage organ riffs on “Enemies” are deliriously aggressive, and the slashing guitars on “You Better Beware” are a headbanger’s delight. On the raging closer “Alright, Alright, Alright,” Bill Roe hollers, “Things are not alright!” with all the conviction of a wildman proclaiming the end of days. Essential and bewilderingly fresh, Things Are Not Alright belies punk rock’s middle age, with stunning vigor.