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7 out of 10
It seems that these Australians skate-punks have both the best and worst timing in the world. As a summer release, this should bring back memories of finishing school, festivals, BBQs, underage drinking. You know, all the good stuff. Unfortunately, it's a 2008 summer release, so it's not exactly in vogue. Even if this was 1998, all the Fat Wreck and Epitaph bands that these guys take their cue from were already on the way out, so the chances of people taking notice today are fairly slim. And that's a shame, since this deserves to do well.
I could complain that there's nothing here that hasn't been done before. The obligatory drum fill and ringing guitar chord opening, the busy NOFX-aping bass lines, the Bad Religion vocal harmonies, the bleeding heart/bad government/don't let life get you down lyrics. It's not likely to change the world, but we don't want it to, or need it to. Because fortunately, it's all done well, and with enough energy that you can't help but let it uplift you. Throw in a couple of moments that do start to push the boundaries, like the extended melodic ending of Restored, and the more metallic riffing on AA-11, and you have an album that slowly wheedles it's way into your head until you somehow find yourself humming the tunes even when the CD has long since finished.
Sometimes you don't need a band to make great leaps forward in music. It can be enough just to have a solid album of catchy tunes, played well, by people who are obviously enjoying themselves. I just hope that the enjoyment will make up for the serious amount of slogging they'll have to put in.
Listen: www.myspace.com/lostinlinestyles
Tracklist:
1. The Balance
2. The Brightness
3. Faces In The Dark
4. Choking On Words
5. Restored
6. The Drama
7. Break The Cycle
8. The Sky Is Falling
9. Smiles That Scream
10. AA-11
11. Goodbye
12. Will Not Rest
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