Fifteen
"Surprise!" CD (Grass)
Few albums have frustrated me as much as Fifteen's "Surprise!" Every song has the potential to be a fine display of poppy punkness but right at that crucial moment, when the chorus should kick in with soaring background vocals, each one falls flat. The lead singer just keeps on wailing in his tuneless, gritty voice all by his lonesome. (Imagine Bad Religion with no one singing but Greg Graffin). When one of his bandmates joins in, it sounds like Lee Ving backing Lee Ving - no range, no diversity. Fifteen needs to learn one of the most crucial lessons from Punk 101: "Oooohh's 'n' Ahhhh's" are, unless you can sing like Jewel, not an option. They are a requirement. (TOM)
"There's No Place Like Home" CD (Lookout!)
Unfair review. This is one of my all-time favorite bands. 6 songs, they rule. The band was great. Go buy all their albums. This was their last and possibly their best. (ROSS)