Allroy Saves

From Generation X, the Ramones and the Dickies in the '70s to Green Day in the '90s, the combination of punk's reckless aggression and power pop's infectious hooks have often made for an exciting combination. Though the punk-pop combination has worked reasonably well for All at times, the L.A. band hasn't always lived up to its potential. A perfect example is Allroy Saves, which has its moments but could have been much stronger. Some of the songs are fun and catchy enough--most notably, "Just Like Them," "Educated Idiot" and the goofy "Frog." But most of the material is disposable, and when you look at the CD on the whole, you realize how unfocused and generally disappointing it is. Allroy Saves is an album that only completists will find of interest. ~ Alex Henderson