Reviews:

Ryan Wood The MetroWest Daily News
The New Frustrations – Power Pop Rocks (Lawless Records)

Why? Why do some bands do just enough to get by, only to produce a batch of mundane tracks that sound like what every other artist has done before? Thank the music gods – or whatever god you bow down to or have tattooed on your back – for bands like The New Frustrations. Even on a short, four-song EP, this five-piece punk band from Plymouth manage to do it all – craft classic hooks, inject harmonies in the right spots, and highlight each musician’s strong points. The band consists of Mike Scagliarini (vocals/guitar), Rick Knapp (guitar/vocals), Brian McCann (drums/vocals), Tom Rose (bass/vocals), and Tim Downie (guitar). Together for two and a half years, The New Frustrations are releasing Power Pop Rocks as a 7-inch (yes, vinyl) and as a digital download in early 2008. Enough of the specifics, let’s get down to what really makes this band – its infectious sound. Picture a sibling rivalry between songs from Gang of Four (“I Found That Essence Rare”), The Jam (“Strange Town”), and The Buzzcocks (“Ever Fallen In Love”), and you’ve got Power Pop Rocks. The opener, “Change My Mind,” brings out the best in Scagliarini, and the rockabilly-ish guitar solo that ends the song is brilliant. The four-song EP also features a cover of “One Last Night,” made famous by the legendary Boston rock band, The Atlantics. Stop what you’re doing, do not pass go, and head directly to the band’s MySpace page. Check out some of the band’s older tracks, particularly “Just Want to Know,” which echoes The Stooges and The Clash. Don’t waste your time listening to all the pop-punk rubbish that’s taking over mainstream radio, modernized late-1970s punk is what really rocks.

Rating: 8 out of 10

These guys play Cabby Shack Dec. 22, as part of a benefit concert for the Children’s Christmas Fund. For more information about the band, and to hear some of their other songs, visit www.myspace.com/newfrustrations
Ryan Wood The MetroWest Daily News