This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Once upon a time, this Aussie trio were a diehard punkabilly outfit.
Slowly but surely, though, over the years they have evolved — or devolved, depending on your view — into your standard pop-punk band. Which brings us to their disappointing fifth album Modern Artillery, a catchy but commonplace clutch of power-chord riffs, hip-deep harmonies and arena-sized hooks written with one ear cocked to the pop charts. Between singer guitarist Chris Cheney’s new wavy vocals and spiky guitar licks, many of these tunes sound like a weird cross between Joe Jackson and Green Day. Which is not necessarily a bad thing — though, quite frankly, it isn’t that great either. The Living End may be aiming high, but they may have ended up shooting themselves in the foot anyway.
