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ANCHORS AWEIGH
(Epitaph)
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With six albums under their belt, New Jersey punks the Bouncing Souls have established themselves as one of the hardest-working bands of the Warped Tour generation. So it’s easy to understand their passion in denouncing the sellout mentality on "Kids and Heroes," the first single from their new disc. "You’re gone/I guess you weren’t here from the start/In the end, it’s all a question of heart," croons frontman Greg Attonito over the band’s tuneful roar. Leading off with just vocals and guitar before shifting into overdrive, that track sums up their approach these days: they do hardcore and they do ballads, but they don’t do radio-friendly pop. The beginning of the album finds them at their most propulsive, especially on the Michael Moore–inspired sociopolitical rant "Born Free." Halfway through, they get personal on the lovelorn rager "Better Days" and the string-laden tearjerker "Todd’s Song," an elegy for late Pietasters bassist Todd Eckhardt. "New Day" breaks up the regretful mood with a blast of raw exuberance. By turns hopeful and nostalgic, the Souls play street-savvy rock and roll for grizzled punks and newbies alike. (The Bouncing Souls perform next Thursday, October 30, at Avalon; call 617-262-2424.)
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