Somehow Hollow Busted Wings & Busted Halos CD

Although Somehow Hollow's debut is competent and energetic pop-punk, it would have been more impressive if there hadn't been uncounted bands strip-mining a similar territory in the decade or so prior to its release. All the defining traits of the genre are here in force: driving rhythms, combinations of distorted ringing riffs and grinding chords, harmonies tinged with exuberant yelp, and words that, for all their punkish settings, deal mostly with the sweet pain of romantic loss. If "sweet pain" sounds like an oxymoron, there's no getting around how the general good-humored tone of their aggression is at odds with the with the downcast outlook of the lyrics. There's a bit, and not much, of metal involved too, particularly in the occasional mild screech of swoops down the strings. ~ Richie Unterberger

Recorded between October & November 2002.

Melodic Punk From Ontario;Core Members Of Grade

Personnel: Brad Casarin (vocals, guitar); Joel Parisien (keyboards).

Recording information: Music Gym (10/2002-11/2002); Rainbow Studios (10/2002-11/2002); Unity Gain (10/2002-11/2002).

Photographer: Bill Hamilton.

Somehow Hollow: Mike Casarin (vocals, bass); Kent Abbot, Brad Casarin (guitar, background vocals); Drew Clark (drums).

Additional personnel: Joel Parisien (keyboards); Jaret Koop (background vocals).