Here’s a look (and listen) to some records that have been cluttering up our desk and inboxes here at YuppiePunk World HQ over the past few weeks. Though none of them inspired 3000-word soliloquys, we figured we could at least muster 50 on each and an MP3.

ANTI-FLAG - "THE PEOPLE OR THE GUN"
By now you pretty much know what to expect when a new Anti-Flag record shows up: Pissed off anthems about a decaying society. The Pittsburgh quartet has been cranking out melodic punk albums for over fifteen years now and their latest LP Is more of the same – songs about the economy, war and politics … and how fucked they all are.
Anti-Flag - "This Is the First Night”

GREEN DAY - "21st CENTURY BREAKDOWN"
Green Day are all grown up, which is great on the one hand because their last two records increased the scope of their worldview (and their audience) dramatically, but also kind of sucks because their early records were so darn catchy and blissful. But alas, bands must evolve, and if "American Idiot" was your bag, so to will be "21st Century Breakdown." 
Green Day - "21st Century Breakdown"

THE PARASITES - "SOLITARY"
Dave Parasite has been banging out sugary pop punk records since the beginning of time, or at least the late-’80s, and though they never achieved the success of many of their peers, they’re still doing the same thing they always have, writing three-chord pop punk gems about girls. And while we’re not sure whether this a compliment of a put down, you can take any song from the band’s latest record and swap it in with something off one of their early-90s records and you’d be hard pressed to notice a difference.
Parasites - "Say It Again"

RANCID - "LET THE DOMINOES FALL"
It’s been 6 years since we last heard from Rancid, and apparently they’ve been listening to all their previous records, taking moments from each and combining them here – which despite some great songs, makes for an uneven outing. But at least there’s something for all Rancid fans. The lead off track, "East Bay Nights" is a melodic classic, while "Civilian Ways," a mandolin-laced ballad may just be the best Tom Waits song he never wrote.
Rancid - "Civilian Ways"

TUMBLEDOWN – "TUMBLEDOWN"
Mike Herrera from MxPx unplugs and releases a record of barn-burning country punk songs. There’s not a lot of depth however, either in style or substance, but fans of his other projects will no doubt find plenty to sink their teeth into. The record does have a great album cover though, looking like a piece of traditional tattoo flash.
Tumbledown - "Son of a Gun"

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