The main difference between Montreal's
Frenetics and their Canadian compatriots
Sum 41 (besides
the Frenetics' refreshingly non-juvenile viewpoint) is that this trio's debut album suggests that their familiarity with the history of punk rock goes back further than
Green Day's
Dookie. Specifically, it seems likely that
the Frenetics own a fair number of
Jam albums from before
Paul Weller started indulging his R&B jones, as well as some early
Fugazi and classic-era
Hüsker Dü. Naturally, they're not a patch on any of these artists -- Malcolm Bauld isn't particularly memorable as either a singer or a lyricist -- but
These Mistakes Took Years of Practice makes up for its weaknesses by delivering its energetic, melodic pop-punk tunes with enough energy and variety to keep from falling into the all too common trap of having a dozen songs that basically all sound exactly alike. The high points are the churning "Cold Conclusion" and the sweetly power poppy "Wintertime," which sounds like a cross between early
Go-Go's and late
Redd Kross. ~ Stewart Mason