One Mississippi

J Church's fifth proper studio record, One Mississippi, is the result of one of their longest recording hiatuses in their prolific career, but never ones to disappoint, mastermind Lance Hahn and company happily unleash 26 new pop-punk gems on this release. As usual the topics are monumentally diverse, ranging from Thoreau to the devil to the New York Times Book Review, and, interestingly enough, this time around so is the music. With the assistance of former Jawbreaker drummer Adam Pfahler, the group tumbles through everything from straight punk anthems to atypical marching-style progressions. Hahn's vocals on this release sound even better than usual, and whether he's pushing the limit with a scream or two or singing quietly over a subdued acoustic guitar, his sharp wit and smooth delivery make for a highly engaging listen. It can easily be argued that the early raw recording of J Church marked the band's highest point, but tracks like "Diet Coke" and "No Jazz" show a much more mature and equally talented group who are only complemented by better recording techniques and a more experimental attitude. One Mississippi is also one of the longer punk rock albums out there, and its wide array of styles makes for an extensive LP that, while at times almost overwhelming, contains no shortage of catchy tunes and might arguably contain something for everyone. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, Rovi