Here's something you don't encounter every day, at least not in the U.S.: an accomplished and mature pop-punk band from Jerusalem.
Man Alive had been scratching out an existence for several years in the Middle East while slowly building an international fan base and self-releasing two full-length albums before they caught the attention of the Militia Group label and producer Ed Rose (whose name you may recognize from the back of a
Get Up Kids album or two).
Open Surgery is the result, and it's an impressive document of a band that has honed its craft and persevered and poured its experiences back into the music. Highlights include the twisted rockabilly rave-up of the title track, the
Hüsker Dü-inflected "On the Air," and the utterly brilliant power pop anthem "Hold On." For those who prefer your pop-punk mixture to be mixed a bit more heavily toward the punk side, there's the borderline-hardcore sound of "Against the Wall," which blows the doors off for a grand total of 40 seconds. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson