BYO Split Series, Vol. 5
Vol. 5 of L.A. punk imprint BYO's Split Series features Bay Area punk revivalists One Man Army matching wits with maudlin Vagrant Records heroes Alkaline Trio. Each band gets six songs,Hating Every Minuteand a cover of the Damned'sWait for the Blackouthighlighting Alkaline's set, and OMA turning it on withThe T.V. SongandThe Radio Airwaves Gave Me a Lobotomy. Both groups stick to their trademark sounds, with Alkaline Trio frowning while smoothing the ends of ragged post-punk and One Man Army showing more flair for scraggly melody than Tim Armstrong singing in the shower. Recommended. --Johnny Loftus, Rovi