New American Saint

Here's yet another band that seems determined to demonstrate the increasing silliness of trying to draw a line between "pop-punk" and straight-up pop. What, the guitars are distorted? So what? Heavy guitars predate punk by about ten years, thank you. What, they're tight and tuneful as well as distorted? So were 10cc. Sorry, but there's really nothing punk at all about this Jersey-based band's sophomore effort, and that's just fine. If you think they've betrayed the Scene, then go buy a Fugazi bootleg and leave alone everyone else who cares more about songs than about politically correct record-buying. Raise your lighter to the power ballad sumptuousness of the title track and bang your head in frustrated romantic sympathy to the headlong rush, dense harmonies, and magically synched-up guitar tremolo of "Goodbye Almond Eyes." Also, chuckle knowingly when the glockenspiel kicks in on "I Love You... Too." And swoon (manfully) over the layered vocals and crunchily swaying 6/4 groove of "A Reason to Come Home Again." Very nice indeed. Scenes are for wussies.