OFF! on Music

Sum 41

All Killer No Filler

These new millennium skateboarding punksters are self-aware masters of entertainment. They'll take you on a joy ride combining super pop with heavy metal, hip-hop and ska sounds. The single "Fat Lip" glides smoothly from an 80s Beastie Boys' sound to Blink 182 to Black Sabbath. Crazy combinations like this that'll make you laugh, but leave you asking for another listen.

Weezer

Weezer (a.k.a The Green Album or the one with the Hashpipe song)

Although they dropped out of the scene for a few years, Weezer has continued to cultivate its fan base, as fiercely loyal in Japan or Australia as it is the quartet's native Los Angeles. It looks like Rivers Cuomo and his "Buddy Holly" boys are back in full swing. Head lyricist-singer Rivers Cuomo tones down his angst and replaces it with a sunny but dirty '70s rock core. The denim vibe virtually oozes out of the first single "Hash Pipe," which features Rivers doing his best impersonation of Foreigner's "Hot Blooded," while a blistering bassline lets the kids know it's all good fun. Joyous subtlety reigns: "Don't Let Go" is crammed with quiet background solos, just as "Knock-down Drag-out" relies on a quivering cache of fadeouts and charming choruses to take the listener to its happy place.