The Men

"We throw in all this soft music, folk, jazz, etc., not only to avoid getting caught in just one style, but also to show [self-proclaimed 'punks'] that, 'See, you didn't want any rules — this is what you wanted. You didn't want to be told what to listen to." These are the words of the Minutemen spokesman Mike Watt, but it might as well be the Men talking. Their latest LP traces the line drawn in the sand by its sporadic-country-vibes predecessor, Open Your Heart, then gouges it with a scuffed lumberjack's boot. The resulting chasm represents an evolutionary instinct rarely detected in hardcore. From the cosy organic country of "Open the Door" to the cavernous psych-assault of "Supermoon," it's apparent the Brooklynites have honed an already winning strategy. Instead of blasting through the saloon doors and beating you within an inch of your life, they'd rather sneak into your bedroom with a mug of hot cocoa... then beat you within an inch of your life. The songwriting is never breathtakingly original (think a Velvet Underground tribute to Yo La Tengo), but ultimately the Men have set an admirable standard for their peers to aspire to.