At once both sugary sweet and ready to rumble, the breakfast cereal equivalent of the Weekend's latest release would have to be Captain Crunch. Driving guitars jostle for position beside sinuous, `80s-throwback keys, all the while overshadowed by the girls' well-blended vocal harmonies. Dubbed Teaser, this five-song EP (six, if you count the hidden track) represents the second release for the band since their full-length, self-titled debut in 2000. Full of fun and youthful vigor, the songs included here would be perfectly at home on the soundtracks to any number of movies involving surfing, skateboarding or running from cops at a mall. Standouts include "Out Of Sight" and "80s Rockstar" - which could very well be the best (if completely unintentional) tribute to David Lee Roth. Light and non-confrontational, the Weekend's particular brand of infectious, summery pop/rock seems best suited for day trips to the beach or anyone in the 14-18 suburban demographic who'd like to rage against the machine - without having to cancel their account at The Gap. Don't get me wrong, I like both their sound and this album - but it's tough not to poke some fun at a band whose two biggest fans are Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. RECOMMENDED TRACKS: "Out of Sight", "80s Rockstar", "Victory" - Mike English, CFBU Radio, St.Catharines, ON

By Mike English
Jul 9, 2002