While is technically a band effort, this is really a solo album. Once again working with producer and co-writer , dispenses with the hair metal affectation and goes straight for the punk rock jugular. also emerges as a songwriter on this album, a trend that would continue with his next releases. grew out of a series of shows at in New York, billed as . With the same lineup as on the album (including former bassman ) augmented by and , the band tore through a bunch of originals, and the usual helping of , and covers. The lyrics on this album are generally the best to date for . Tales of alienation like sit right alongside stories of loss such as a song about his dead buddies, most notably . sneers, "(M)y misery's without company/My partner's in crime have been taken from me/We used to laugh about our legacy/Couldn't get arrested on ." Don't worry, boredom also gets an airing in a catchy rocker whose title says it all. Of course, there are a couple of great covers here as well. This time out, smokes ' as well as a blistering version of When sings, "We can blow you all to pieces," it sounds like he means it. This is a really solid effort, breathing life into a style that is rarely pulled off these days: hook-filled punk rock (with a few hard rock flourishes) played and sung with verve and skill, by people who understand and appreciate what they are doing rather than just going along with the program. If you always wondered why looks like a punk, check this one out. ~ Geoff Ginsberg