Therewolves!

Melodic, punk-inspired rock 'n' roll is alive and well. For those who find emo-punk too clean and manicured, or too perfect and cloying, San Francisco's Philistines return to punk's rough-and-tumble roots with a hint of The Replacements, Sonic Youth, and Libertines in their no-holds-barred attack. Colin Daly had been planning to make a new Ex-Boyfriends album when his bandmate moved to the East Coast, leaving him band-less. Enter Chris Daly: Colin's twin brother, formerly of Sweep the Leg Johnny. Together, they finished these songs and caught fire sticking to the "Keep It Simple" mantra of one of the album's best songs. Guitars build on each other in the hardline "Red Alert," where the end of the world sounds at hand. "Woo Hoo Hoo," with its loose falsetto backing vocals, evokes memories of early-'90s Pavement. "Whatcha Say" kicks up a compact riff and chorus in its two-minute attack. "Nightmare," the album's epic track at almost four minutes, captures a downcast vibe worthy of The Cure at its most desperate.