We all do crazy things, for love or even just for the thrill of it. Masked Intruder knows all about that, capturing the torment and rush of love and knife crime in Ramones-style pop-punk blasts fresh from its prison cells in the state penitentiary.

I'm sure it's hard to write, let alone practice eight-minute prog-space ballads or neck-cranking metal opera power jams when the warden's on your case. What's required is the efficiency of two-minute pop-punk songs that get straight to the (knife) point. The necessities of prison, or serenading outside bedroom windows on cold lonely nights, have shaped Masked Intruder's tunes to power along while capturing the potent emotions of love denied. It also makes it easier to avoid further suspicion as four masked guys hanging around if you can get practice over with in under 30 minutes.

The First Offense EP contains five songs of classic buzzsaw pop-punk that also throws in some '50s doo-wop choruses and stylings here and there. These touches give the songs a bubblegum quality that ensures things are slightly demented given the lyrical content of robbery, stalking and home invasion. This is fun stuff without ever falling into comedy territory. Nor is it graphic or truly violent. The songs somehow manage to have an endearingly innocent heart that comes from passion, of love struck loser longing. They have an enthusiasm to them that wins you over. Before you know it you'll be an accomplice in Masked Intruder's world as you sing, "Stick 'em up, stick 'em up, stick 'em up / I've got a knife motherfucker / Stick 'em up!" Criminality has never seemed so much fun!

A full-length is coming soon if it ever gets past prison censors. In the meantime send fanmail and nail files baked into large cakes to the Wisconsin prison board.