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Common Rider

Last Wave Rockers (2000)
Lookout Records

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Contributed by: Mark Williams
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 20th 2001

Damn! I love this album. This is the looooooong awaited new material from Operation Ivy frontman and punk icon Jesse Michaels, and let me just say that it was well worth the wait. LWR takes elements of reggae, 70's street punk, 60's rock and roll, and lightning quick lyrics,to make one of the best smorgasborgs of music I've heard in a while. Mass Gorgioni(from Sqirtgun) plays bass and Dan Lumley(Screeching Weasel and Riverdales) does the drumming. There are also plenty of saxophone solos, backing organs and even some backing vocals by a couple of the Teen Idols.

The first track, "Classics of Love", sets the tone for the entire album, with its reggae groove, punk rock raps, and rockin chourus. The best songs are the incredibly catchy punk tunes "Heatseekers" and "True Rulers", the reggae gems "Rough Redemption" and "Walk to the River", and "Deep Spring" a quick little mellow ditty that is so different from anything else on the album, it seems to fit right in. There's even an unlisted track at the end, which reminds me of 60's country/acoustic rock (but it's supprisingly good!). The lyrics are in the same vein as OpIv, promoting love and unity for everyone, while remaining as poetic and socially relevant as they were in '89. Comparrisons to The Clash, Sublime, and OpIv can be made, but the album is completley original. The only bad thind is that it may wear out your cheap-ass CD player.-

MArktheShark

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Sliced-T (March 13, 2010)

10 years later and this album still rules.

peaceonmars (June 8, 2006)

Classics of Love is one of my favorite songs to start off an album.

Anonymous (August 2, 2004)

this album is just fantastic. no music fan should go without Last Wave Rockers and This Is Unity Music.

moldrottenmilk (December 24, 2002)

God, I can't type. haha...instead of REASON I meant manner...and after the show I met Jesse and he talked to us (people I went with) he was nice and he talked to us for about 20 minutes..and i'm sure he had better things to do...really. what a lovely guy.

moldrottenmilk (December 24, 2002)

Common Rider last wave rockers is the greatest cd ever made. Common Rider is my favorite band. I think they are wonderful. Alota people listen to them simply because of Jesse Michaels, but not me. I didn't even know who Jesse Michaels was until my brother told me. I agree Classics Of Love definityly sets the tone of the cd. This cd is incredible. I've never ever heard of anything as great as this. I saw them at the plea for peace tour and they rocked me hardcore they put on a lovely show...and Jesse had so much energy and when everyone was begging for an Op Ivy song he explained in a nice, calm, understandable reason why he couldn't. Yet another reason to love Common Rider and if you have such a flippin' problem with Common Rider please go tell someone who gives a flying fuck.

Anonymous (June 26, 2002)

While not everyone likes Jawbreaker, everyone should like Jawbreaker. - bigjerk

rxband1t (May 23, 2002)

I hate when people, dismiss a band then refer you to a jawbreaker album. Fuckoff. Not everyone likes jawbreaker.

harg (March 31, 2002)

its a refreshing album. i looked forward to something like this. don't expect operation ivy though its totally different its a mellow album.

Anonymous (November 10, 2001)

haha, last wave rockets!

oh man i live this cd. I think every one should get it!

Anonymous (June 1, 2001)

Yes, this is a great cd.

Anonymous (April 21, 2001)

Common Rider sucks ass. This is a bad (yet good because a lot of idiots bought this) attempt at making a dollar. Go buy a Jawbreaker album instead.

fathead (April 11, 2001)

shit, i just now noticed that i misspelled the name of the cd. rockers, not rockets. doh!still a ten.

Anonymous (April 11, 2001)

Expecting more ska on this cd i was supprised with the amount of pop rock.
But its cool, cool and nice to sit back and enjoy. I love the fact that two members of screeching weasel are in this band. This cd is great to give your punk collection some clean air.

i got a cool interview with jesse by ben weasel if anyone wants it.

-faceecaf@hotmail.com