Automatic Rival

I’m a snooty bastard when it comes to the musical craft, so it was to my own surprise, and the credit of this local power trio, that I wanted to take a second listen to its eponymous collection of punch-and-crunch tunes. Some part of my interest was certainly due to nostalgia, many of these songs being reminiscent of the very earnest, hook-laden bar-rockers that Live, Fuel and Tonic were churning out a decade ago. But, more objectively, what raises this album above the average soundtrack-to-your-weekend-hookup drivel is that these guys are practiced. So, despite a couple of tired progressions, they never come off as one-trick grunge-vendors. Listen to tunes like “Hurricane” and “My Pride.” Good God, is that counterpoint? And dissonance with a purpose? Color me (skeptically) impressed.