Lacking the metallic crunch of
The Offspring or the striaght-ahead punk-pop of
Green Day, Wax sounds ragged and unhinged like early
Soul Asylum, even if it's only an appearance. They have melodies, but their singing is slightly off-key, their guitars are either disjointed or speed along at pseudo-hardcore velocity. At their best, they seem like it doesn't all quite fit together -- as on the single "California," where the vocals never seem to quite keep up with the tempo. And they have enough sense to market themselves with a slick Spike Jonez video and license a song to a Nike commercial, before
13 Unlucky Numbers was released. Keep in mind that three of the 13 tracks are blank and the album clocks in at 23 minutes. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine