Drawing from Christian punk stalwarts like
Slick Shoes and
Side Walk Slam,
Calibretto 13 delivers a disc that promotes truth without watering down the message when Christian punk bands have a tendency to keep their lyrics rather obscure when referencing God; just ask
Squad Five-O. On the tunes "Why Can't I Be on MTV?" and "Dear Beelzebubba," the band writes lyrics that are provocative and straightforward. On the tune "Sheep of the U.S." the band ponders the nondirection of today's youth with an intro that sarcastically spouts, "Go follow the flock you poseurs." On the cut the snotty vocals of Joseph Whiteford are aided nicely by a moving acoustic guitar that's boasted by a forceful beat. "I'll Show the World" is a song that draws comparisons to
the Stray Cats' "Stray Cat Strut" as Whiteford's vocals even hold close to
Brian Setzer's. Other redeemable moments include the building chorus on "Father," and the musical exuberance on "The Proposal."
Calibretto 13 doesn't break any new ground with
The Adventures in Tokyo, but the band does show lyrical integrity and enough musical muscle to make the disc worthy of a few spins. ~ Steven Douglas Losey