In Recovery

No wonder this quartet is In Recovery, they're barely out of their teens, and already they have three self-released albums and an EP to their name. And now comes their first giant step into the big leagues, signing to the Fat Wreck Chords imprint Honest Don's. Hailing from Jacksonville, FL, the group cut their teeth on local stages, gaining a large, loyal following along the way. The experience shows here, and the group members prove to be surprisingly mature songwriters and deft musicians with an impressive grasp of styles and song arrangements. There's more than a touch of early Green Day about In Recovery, less in the sound, although inevitably the Bay Area band is an influence, but more in their give-it-all-you've-got approach, bubbling self-confidence, and unerring ear for lyrics that turn everyday situations into universal slice of life vignettes. Inspection 12's core sound may be melodic punk, awash in harmonies, but they add some intriguing variations to the genre. Screaming guitar solos are not that unique, but it's not everyday one finds a cello opening a punk track, nor a Gregorian-esque chant closing one out. Pastiches of piano and acoustic guitar color a few other numbers, while hard rock and hardcore provide a powerful punch to the proceedings. As major indie debut albums go, this more than passes inspection.