Shook Ones

The Unquotable A.M.H.

[4/5]



Shook Ones have long been championing their cathartic concoction of pop-punk and melodic hardcore without conjuring up a single commonality of the category’s current climate. The Unquotable A.M.H.–the title a seemingly random nod to a certain actor who had frequent roles in John Hughes flicks–has neither the prosaic angst nor the heartache of 2005’s Sixteen nor the wild change-ups of 2006’s Facetious Folly Feat, yet it’s still a wonderful refinement of every other trait they’ve developed so well over the years. Clearly moving past the fractured frustration of failed relationships past, Unquotable tends to offer pure Descendents-esque moments of fast-paced joy, like "whooooa"-laden opener "Middle Name: Justice" and "For Flannel" or jagged power-chord romps like "Who Told Omar?" and "Equal Opportunity Insults." Sporadic smile-cracking interludes (check out the speech from “Bellingham Mayor Keith”) and studio banter prove their sense of humor is fully intact. Even so, the band establish the most judicious of tensions while gracefully studying the faults of friends and foes in deeper cuts like "Bird On Ice" and "Double-Knot That." Just call them Young Adult Dynamite. (PAPER + PLASTICK) Brian Shultz

GO DOWNLOAD: “For Collards”