Achtung Jackass

The Frustrators: Jason Chandler (vocals); Terry Linehan (guitar, background vocals); Mike Dirnt (bass, background vocals); Art Tedeschi (drums).
Additional personnel: Melody (background vocals).
The Frustrators, who include Mike Dirnt of Green Day, upset the all too palatable genre of punk-pop with Achtung Jackass, an enjoyable combination of new wave and bratty, goofball punk. It's no London Calling, but eclectic in its own way. Achtung Jackass skips from mid-tempo punk rock ("Hide and Seek") to Descendents-style jokers ("Frustrators Jingle") and even throws in a little Black Flag for good measure (."25"). But it is a cover of the Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl" that really sets the tone for the record, and the band's ability to earnestly incorporate the diverse catchiness of new wave that makes it so true blue. ~ Charles Spano