Here We Go

Bursting at the seams with youthful punk and power pop energy, this all-young-lady quartet delivers tight pop songs time and again. Whether it's the Go Go's or the Bangles, who the band is influenced by is rather irrelevant since tunes such as "It's Over" and "Wake Up" stack up very well in their own right. There is also a touch of blink-182 and Sum 41 in various forms. Lead singer Jenny MacIssac's voice is soft and melodic enough to contrast well to the heavy guitar riffs doled out by Dawn Mandarino. Even when the group offers a soppy pop tune, such as "Thousand Stars," which is a bit lightweight, there are enough hooks to grab the listener's attention. On a song such as "Whipped," the song harks back to an early-'80s new wave feeling as synthesizers are used throughout. The whole rock star idea is reversed in "Rockstar Boyfriends," while "10 Miles to Go" is another attempt, but is perhaps the weakest track here. "Heartbreaker" and the title track are two of the many high points, but the blistering guitar solos in each eclipse its competition easily. Aside from a needless pop remix, this album is infectious, upbeat, and definitely well-done power pop. [The Canadian Limited Edition includes an additional CD of bonus songs and remixes.]