The second U.S. release by Japanese girl-punk quartet
Gitogito Hustler is slightly cleaner sounding than 2005's gloriously grungy
Gitogito Galore, but only slightly. Neither as endearingly naïve as original Japanese all-female punk bands like
Shonen Knife or the
5.6.7.8.'s, nor as slickly commercial as their glossy contemporaries
Puffy AmiYumi,
Gitogito Hustler stick mostly to the punk side of the pop-punk equation: tempos are breakneck throughout, even on relatively romantic fare like the title track and "Maybe Love," and ramped-up, distorted guitars are the order of the day. However, singer Yago's voice is a sweet pop instrument even when she's yelling at the top of her lungs, and even the most rocking songs here are based on ultra-catchy riffs. Exhilarating in a way that more contrived and chart-bound acts like
Simple Plan could never manage,
Love and Roll belongs next to any
Queers,
Descendents, or
Screeching Weasel album. ~ Stewart Mason