Before we start, let's go over the checklist:
Leather Jackets: Check!
Chuck Taylor All Stars: Check!
Tapered leg blue jeans: Check!
Pomade: Check!
Three different power chords: Check! We even have four!
Crushes on at least ten different girls: Double check!
WE'RE READY TO ROCK!
Boys, men, and all you in-betweens, let's take a little time to give thanks to power pop and punk rock. If it weren't for this music, all of our heartbreak, infatuation, and failed attempts at dating would seem just plain pathetic, especially for the twenty-five and older crowd. Thanks to the genre, those with minimal musical talent and an abundance of woe can write underdog anthems that not only serve as a support network to other males, but also increase our chances of scoring. With girls, cute ones! There's no question why Johnny Ramone is considered a god. He and his leather/denim clad cronies made it easy for future generations of rejects to look cool despite their shortcomings.
And to be sure the following generations of social misfits get prom dates and valentines, bands like Screeching Weasel, The Mr. T Experience, and Green Day decided to carry the torch. Which brings us to The Leftovers. Rarely have I heard a band whose name is so fitting to their sound. Many of the songs from On the Move sound like b-sides from The Queers' back catalog. This isn't to say their album is nothing but throwaway songs, but rather a revival of rock and roll's finer moments. The Leftovers touch on the Stray Cats style, The Beatles/The Beach Boys harmony, the Ramones' power chord frenzy, and the lovesick lyrics of the Lookout Records heyday. On the Move is possibly the perfect soundtrack for the single life.
But just like when you find out the girl of your dreams already has a boyfriend, this album has a few letdowns. Since The Leftovers are playing pop punk tried and true, there's little variance in the songwriting, giving a very monotonous feeling to album when listened to in heavy rotation. Sort of like when you do snag your dream girl, then hang out with her everyday only to find out she's kind of boring, or maybe not as awesome as you thought she was. Sometimes there's just too much of a good thing. If On the Move stretched past thirty minutes all the sugar coated hooks and candy coated choruses would be sure to give you a tummy ache. While these songs are good and may be addicting, they, like anything sweet, should only be taken in moderation.
