Carbonas' self-titled third album offers proof
that "punk-pop" needn't always be associated with adolescence, Fat Wreck Chords,
or poor choices in piercings and facial hair. Instead, Carbonas recall The
Descendents, Buzzcocks, and the vintage influences currently being trumpeted in
Atlanta's fiery young underground-rock scene (Black Lips, Beat Beat Beat,
Deerhunter). The nine-song disc is also the first to accurately evoke Carbonas'
simple, nearly perfect live performances, with Dave Rahn's production chops
adding a needed fullness to a genre known for absence of fidelity.
CoCoComa is a newer name than Carbonas, but the
Chicago trio features slightly older scene stalwarts. Guitarist Lisa Roe and
keyboardist Mike Fitzpatrick hail from garage-rock known-unknowns Headache
City, and singer-drummer Bill Roe played in Stag Party. Their self-titled debut
offers an incredibly loud, fast take on Nuggets-indebted organ/guitar/drums
cave-rock, leaving very little "proto" in their punk, especially on "I Swear"
and "Desperate Situation."