Pegboy: Cha Cha Da More

There's certainly nothing fresh or new about a punk band that sneers its lyrics, plays loud-and-fast guitar, and beats the living shit out of its drum kit. That's just plain rock-and-roll essence, and that's what Pegboy does damn well. You may safely ignore the incongruous and silly lounge-lizard stylings of the cover art; Cha Cha Da More is 10 straight-ahead songs of anger, disdain and frustration, all heavy on the grit, and all great examples of how a simple idea can be just as much fun the 1,000th time around if it's well done. If there's one thing that sets Pegboy apart, it's that frontman Larry Da More is an unusually spirited singer, distinguishing himself from his many contemporaries with better lyrics, catchier hooks, and an ability to snarl through any emotion whatsoever. All in all, it's a good, solid recording, let down only slightly by a surprisingly uninspired walk through Cheap Trick's "Surrender." But in a time when the obligatory cool cover is the only good thing about many records, this is a refreshing flaw.