Bouncing Souls - Anchors Aweigh

The Bouncing Souls have never been known for being musically complex or for overtly political messages in their songs, but rather for just being an all around fun, sing-along type of band. With a career spanning the better half of a decade, the Souls have failed to put out a record that disappoints their fans. Such is the case with their latest, Anchors Aweigh. Style-wise, the New York quartet has always been mixture of melodic punk and hardcore, blended together and topped with their trademark, anthemic choruses. Singer Greg Attonito has one of the most recognizable voices in punk-rock today and can go from a sweet croon to an all-out shout in flawless fashion. The rest of the band is just as solid: Michael McDermott on drums, Bryan on bass, and The Pete rouding out the foursome on guitar. Anchors Aweigh is certainly the culmination of the Bouncing Souls' existence. The band hasn’t lost their sense of humor or their penchant for having a good time, don’t worry. But, these 16 songs show a higher level of seriousness than previously seen from this band. They've managed to present us a lengthy album light on the filler. Since most tracks on this album are worthy of praise, for the sake of time, I'll focus on the highlights. "Kids and Heroes" seems like it would be the obvious single, as it's very easy to relate to (it's about kids... and their heroes). "Born Free" is one of the faster songs, and tells us that "it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." If there were to be a Bouncing Souls "hits collection" in the near future, leaving "Better Days" off would be a crime worthy of death. And, don't miss "Night Train", "Highway Kings", and "Anchors Aweigh" as contenders for the best tune of the bunch. Once again, the Bouncing Souls have released a new album and reclaimed their stake in the “royal family”, or the “punk-rock elite”, or whatever you want to call it. If there were to be a punk-rock hall of fame, Anchors Aweigh and this band's lengthy career would land them in it for sure. [www.bouncingsouls.com]