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MODERN ARTILLERY
The Living End
(Reprise/Warner)
Once upon a time, this Aussie trio were a diehard punkabilly outfit. Slowly but surely, though, over the years they have evolved -- or devolved, depending on your view -- into your standard pop-punk band.
Which brings us to their disappointing fifth album Modern Artillery, a catchy but commonplace clutch of power-chord riffs, hip-deep harmonies and arena-sized hooks written with one ear cocked to the pop charts.
Between singer guitarist Chris Cheney's new wavy vocals and spiky guitar licks, many of these tunes sound like a weird cross between Joe Jackson and Green Day.
Which is not necessarily a bad thing -- though, quite frankly, it isn't that great either. The Living End aim high, but they may have ended up shooting themselves in the foot anyway.
Track Listing
1. What Would You Do?
2. One Said to the Other
3. Who's Gonna Save Us?
4. End of the World
5. Jimmy
6. Tabloid Magazine
7. In the End
8. Maitland Street
9. Putting You Down
10. Short Notice
11. So What
12. Rising Up from the Ashes
13. Hold Up
14. Room