The second album by L.A.'s
the Briggs is basically more of the same as their debut: old-school political punk of
the Stiff Little Fingers/
Angelic Upstarts stripe. Singing guitarists Joey LaRocca and Jason LaRocca recall Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman in their early days in the Dils, in the way that the brothers' very similar voices blend together and split apart, Jason's harmonies coming in to support Joey's leads at just the right time on songs like the opening "Third World War" and the call-and-response shout-along "Keep Us Alive." Musically, the quartet plays cleanly melodic old-school punk that avoids pop-punk clichés. Clearly identifying with the first wave of California punk -- not one but two songs have titles cribbed off old Nuns albums and
Social Distortion comes to mind on songs like the anthemic closer, "Heroes By Choice" -- but not to the point of mindless parroting,
Numbers is invigorating street punk with a refreshingly mature and thoughtful point of view. ~ Stewart Mason