The Dead Pets- Too Little Too Late

Punks rejoice, because the Dead Pets' debut album, previously available only at gigs, has been reissued and mass-marketed, so even U.S. fans can get their grubby paws on it. The Dead Pets are one of the few bright hopes of the modern punk scene, incorporating Oi-style street punk with saxophone and trumpet and recalling UK stalwarts like the Cock Sparrer and The Exploited. Lots of shout-along choruses, raucous guitars, and bleating horns typify the Dead Pets experience, and fans of Operation Ivy and Rancid will especially enjoy "Tokyo Crush," which comes complete with a truly rocking saxophone solo, and the catchy if awkwardly-titled "Cloning Sheltered Religious Ignorant Doorknockers." Despite the presence of horns, this is more punk than ska, but the Dead Pets do throw out "King Alfred" and "Plodding Along" for the rude boys to skank to. "Uncle Festa" is snotty UK punk straight out of the '70s, and "Boomtown Glory" and "Council Concrete" will have you pounding your fist and shouting along with the chorus. "Seen But Not Heard" and "2000 A.D." give a political edge to prove this is more than just mindless fun, but make no mistake: it's still plenty of fun. Finishing things off is an homage to the Pogues, "Keep Trying," that comes complete with tin whistle and will have you singing along while you hoist your Guinness in punk rock solidarity. Screw Good Charlotte, Blink 182, and everything else that's come out in the past decade; this is what punk is meant to sound like.

Visit the Dead Pets at www.thedeadpets.co.uk.