OFF BY ONE
self-titled (LMC Records)
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

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Off By One is four San Diego teens that kick ass with some of the meatiest power pop in a long while, pumping out 13 kick-em-where-they-live buzzcuts that hardly ever pause for breath.

The band is Jon Bishop on guitar weighing in at 19, Jordan Brownwood on bass at 17, Trevor Easter on drums at 19 and singer Mark Gould is the oldest at 21. Veteran Tim Palmer, who's worked with The Cure, Pearl Jam and U2, ensures the production is at a super-crisp professional level that belies the band's age. Hey well, the Beatles were monsters at this age, who are we to argue with this kind of over-caffeinated energy? Actually one's reminded more of Stiff Little Fingers and other English punkers than the Beatles. It isn't the kind of anger-fueled distortion punk that some bands deal in, though it's plenty loud and aggressive; these guys are much more about good times than blowing things up. They have a great sense of melody and dynamics and Mark's vocals always come through really clear above it all. It'll be interesting to see how they develop from here.

The story goes that their early gigs had no bassist, hence the name, but they aren't off anymore. All in all Off By One's a pubescent powerhouse that'll get you off your ass with anthems like "On My Way (To Getting Nowhere)," "Cinderella" and "Punk Rock Girl." There's also a deadly cover of Natalie Imbrulgia's "Torn" and this decade's Fast Times At Ridgemont High would do well to incorporate "High School" in its soundtrack too.

© 2002 - Rusty Pipes