By: Sean R. Grogan



"Politically Rampant Punk Rock Is Back"

Those no-good, New Jersey punk rockers, the Bouncing Souls, are back with another high-energy, politically-charged record. Singer Greg Attonito hits the target on each song with angst-ridden screaming on "Sounds Of The City," to smooth crooning on "The Pizza Song."

On this, The Gold Record, the Bouncing Souls show a real growth as musicians and bandmates with a tighter and more developed sound than anything they've previously released. While naysayers may yell that they have left their punk roots behind, longtime fans will see the passion and depth in this record, and accept that the Souls have grown beyond the songs they composed in their early years. And yet, they still possess the grit and venom we've come to expect.

The political "Letter From Iraq" tells the tale of soldiers as they watch children run from smart bombs in the war-torn country. Though the track begins serene and somber, it quickly changes pace, bursting like a cluster bomb as it drops its hard visuals on listeners from the onset of battle to a 21 gun salute.

While the record overall lacks the sing-a-long anthems of previous albums, it makes up for it with speed, energy, and mature talent.