New York City’s Roger Miret sounds like a cross between Larry Kirwan of Black 47 and Joe Strummer. The rest of The Disasters sound a bit like an edgier version of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, without the keyboards, until they throw in some reggae a la The Clash. I like it, almost in spite of myself. The lyrics range from street punk style solidarity anthems to Springsteen-like character studies, plus a Ramones tribute. They mix up the tempos and the moods nicely. It may not be the most challenging record of the year, but it’s a good one, one that you can probably enjoy with both your punk friends and your classic rock-loving cousins.
–brian (Sailor’s Grave)