My Degeneration

The title of the Canadian neo-punkers' major-label debut is no doubt a biting twist on the Who, and the defiantly cool cover art lets us know that the band — an overnight sensation that took seven years to be discovered by Green Day producer Rob Cavallo, who helms here — isn't interested in pleasantries or reverence. Their lyrics, sung/screamed by the raspy and irrepressible Matt Hughes, are downright confessional, and are worth trying to hear over the fast moving guitars and raging drums of Tim Thomson. "Ready to Roll" is an ultra hip tune about an ultra-uncool activity — playing Dungeons and Dragons and indulging in odd fantasies. "Praise the Day" recalls Hughes' grade school embarrassment of looking like a girl with his bad haircut. And "Butterball" is a quasi-love song about fattening up a girlfriend so no one else will look her way. It's fun, loud, total party music that will appeal to former nerds who make good with cool music — and those who just enjoy well produced guitar-driven post-punk. [My Degeneration was also released with bonus tracks.]