A New Clear Route

Gruff rock with a fiercely dissatisfied political focus. Generally harder alt-rock blend of influences on the instrumentation, with various ends of the spectrum pointing toward Weezer and the Meat Puppets. Vocals like a jumpier Michael Stipe with a slight lisp and a propensity for clever rhyming. My picks: 8, 2, 3, 10, 11. FCC clean. –Andy

1 - Fast, cheery despite hating on Cleveland pretty hard
*2 - Intense, chunky guitar riff, distressed and effective vocals
*3 - Slacker-rock instrumentation; intricate and cynical lyrics with sad-sack harmony on the choruses
4 - Dark and angry, with hard rock guitar and pounded quarter note snare beat
5 - Another fast, angry cynicism spurt; not clear how/whether spouting off of liberal buzzwords is intended ironically
6 - Anti-war number, haranguing America for its military activity; simple rock
7 - Big, with soaring alt-rock guitar riffs
*8 - Brooding, metal-riff verses transition deftly to bright, grabbing, patriotically optimistic choruses; big rock-out at end
9 - Interesting bassy guitar riff with sprawling, pining choruses
*10 - Loungey instrumentation shifts to edgy dissonance on choruses; wistful vocals with R.E.M.-evocative backing part in final stretch
*11 - Feel-good 90's alt-pop guitar parts; cheery choruses with bleak lyrics