Under Attack
Only lead singer/songwriter Mike Peters remains from the original lineup of this north Wales band, which helped to usher in an early MTV generation with its rock anthem "The Stand." But Peters still has stories to tell, from both the 2005 bombings of a London subway and his personal battle with leukemia. Sounding more like a supercharged 21st century pop band than any U2 wannabe, this version of the Alarm shouldn't fear the retread labels that often attach themselves to revamped '80s bands. Peters jettisoned his solo songwriting rituals to gain inspiration from a full-band setting, and the outcome is initiated both by the contagious "Superchannel," and "Without a Fight," where Peters sings of prevailing against his disease. The acoustic flashes of "This is Life" balance the record against weighty rockers like "Zero" and "Be Still," the Clash-inspired "Cease and Desist," and "My Town," which has Peters recalling the terrorist attack on his city. And when he sings, "The only thing that comes for free/Is the air we need to breathe," it serves as both a distressing remembrance of a horrifying event and perhaps the most potent song on a powerful comeback album.--Scott Holter