North Lincoln - Truth is a Menace

While the band's location will undoubtedly have them compared to their Michigan brethen in Small Brown Bike (RIP), and their sound will stuff them in the same category as many other No Idea Records bands--Gunmoll, Hot Water Music, etc., North Lincoln really deserves to transcend these comparisons and stand on their own ground. Gruff vocals seem to be predestined to have the band lumped together with many of the aforementioned groups, but I have to stress that while those groups are all incredible, North Lincoln is their own band and should be treated as such. The easiest way to describe this would be rough, melodic punk rock, fueled by alcohol in true No Idea Records fashion. Anyway, Truth is a Menace is a pretty damn good record, and while it's not likely you'll ever hear any of it played on the radio, it still has the ability to appeal to those of us who yearn for catchy songs over a barrage of incoherent anger. Oh yeah, and the band covers a Smiths song ("Jeane"), which definitely gives them a cool point in my book. In yours too, hopefully. [www.noidearecords.com]