Let’s see…it’s not punk-pop, it’s not hardcore, it’s not power pop. Well, gosh, it must be…rock & roll! How about that. Avoid One Thing is kind of an alt-rock supergroup, containing as it does current and former members of Gang Green, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Raging Teens, Pilfers, and Spring Heeled Jack (the ska band, not the electronica duo). But they wear their professionalism lightly on their debut album, contenting themselves with laying down big, meaty slabs of highly satisfying, crunchily melodic rock of the kind that only comes with lots of songwriting experience and years of playing with lots of other people in small, crappy bars. Highlights here include the incongruously beautiful “Yakisoba,” the uplifting “Lean on Sheena,” and the completely befuddling “Bomb-Building Songs.” This debut album is one thing that should not be avoided. – Rick Anderson
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