'In With the Old' Hawaiian flavor

By Nate Seltenrich

Kona, HI's Pepper have been fine-tuning their blend of reggae, punk and alternative pop/rock over the course of three albums since their formation in 2000, and "In With the Old" is undeniably their best yet.

The album continues the band's exploration of Sublime-influenced sounds as they try to establish their niche in a genre that has faded from the mainstream since its explosion in the mid-to late-'90s. Bands like Reel Big Fish, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Goldfinger all reached their peak at that time and have since passed to relative obscurity. Today, younger groups like Pepper and Slightly Stoopid are poised to fill the void.

"In With the Old" represents Pepper's biggest step toward an identifiable, marketable and enjoyable sound with broad appeal. From start to finish, it's a pleasure to listen to, with punk and reggae influences tastefully fading in and out under an ever-present pop sheen.

The majority of the songs' lyrics deal with relationships, but in line with the album's upbeat feel, these messages are generally more hopeful than pessimistic.

"Border Town," which expresses a desire to leave behind a frustrating small town life, is one song that sharply deviates from this formula. Musically, it also treads new ground by matching a twangy country guitar riff with a bright acoustic guitar rhythm â€" a unique approach that should work even for the staunchest country music critic.

Later on the album, "Punk Rock Cowboy" brings together the same country guitar with grungy punk power chords, to considerably less successful effect.

Other highlights are "Love Affair," the most reggae-driven song on the album that will inevitably leave you skankin', and "Ashes," a masterpiece of the genre that showcases Pepper's broad musical palette by flawlessly integrating a sweet pop-punk riff, syncopated reggae keyboards, and smooth vocals into a well-polished mix.

Through and through, "In With the Old" is a good-times record that would be a suitable party soundtrack for almost any occasion. What you hear is what you get, and Pepper remind us just how much fun that can be.

Grade: B+

û Contact Nate Seltenrich at (408) 554-4546 or nseltenrich@scu.edu.