The Smugglers' brand of fun, hooky punk-pop is geared for dancefloors, hoping to get listeners out in a sweaty crowd with big, dumb grins plastered across their faces. There isn't a single weighty moment on
Mutiny in Stereo; there's no anger, no angst, nothing but summer fun and pop music. From the beginning blast of "Pirate Ships," a rousing ode to British pirate radio, the Smugglers blast through the simple and melodic tunes like the offspring of
the Undertones and a Mick Jones-led
Clash with a bit of the laddishness of
Mott the Hoople and a touch of
Peter Perrett of
the Only Ones in Grant Lawrence's vocals thrown in for good measure. This might be the strongest record of the band's career, with no weak moments and a bucketload of great songs, like the sensitive "Larry," the garage soul of "Don't Mess With Beez," the ripping
AC/DC homage "Shock the Shanker," and the anthemic "Suntans." Lawrence's vocals are strong and nuanced, the guitars loud and tough, the arrangements interesting.
Mutiny in Stereo shows a degree of skill and craft that is lacking in much of the day's punk-pop.
Sum 41,
Good Charlotte, and the rest could learn a thing or two from the Smugglers. For the rest of us, let's just hit the floor and get ready to have a good time. ~ Tim Sendra