Lifetime’s third and final full-length LP is a triumphant burst of upbeat punk rock that makes it clear the band called it quits while they were still at the top of their game. Slightly poppier than previous efforts, Jersey’s Best Dancers still finds the quintet rocking hard, and with songs like “Theme for a New Brunswick Basement Show” and “Turnpike Gates,” it also sees them sticking to the hometown topics that they’ve always treasured. Don’t go expecting widespread universal theories from this band, but if personal observations like, “And I’m so/And you’re so/We’re all so/All f*cked up” are the kind of self-affirmations that make sense, then this record will go straight to your heart. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s the sound of suburban youth who needed guitars to help soothe their souls. For those who were a part of the scene when Lifetime still existed, this is a nice bit of nostalgia, and for those curious about what the kids see in punk rock that helps change their lives, this makes it all a little more clear. Lifetime was never the biggest name in any genre, but they were still a commanding presence with their live shows and recorded material. They left a legacy whose final recorded moments, represented on this record, are as stunning as anything else the band created in the seven short years they existed. – Peter J. D’Angelo
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