Something Corporate

Given the quality of Something Corporate's debut, it's surprising that the piano-based Orange County kids didn't join the party of chart-dominating Coldplay also-rans like the Fray. "Punk Rock Princess" trades up the piano support for a chugging distorted guitar and is the record's most durable single, but when "I Woke Up in a Car" wallops with the huge chorus, it flaunts the band's knack for knocking out a near perfect slice of commercial power pop.

Something Corporate craft suburban ennui and high school angst into slick, hummable
punk. Yes, since Blink first hit, this has been done to death. But the secret weapon here is
sharp songwriting and nice keyboards, courtesy of Andrew McMahon. Derivative, but not
boring. RICHARD ABOWITZ (RS 906 - October 3, 2002)