** Simon Says

JUMP START

(Hollywood)

The culture factory's synergism is admirable, if obvious. Just as teen films are massing for spring and summer multiplex campaigns, support troops (the music Marines?) are at the ready. With producers Rob Cavallo (Green Day) and Mark Needham (Cake) as generals, Sacramento's Simon Says deploy martial rhythms and adrenalized riffage as representatives of the uniformity of the new teen order. Jagged and nimble one moment ("Ship Jumper," "Life Jacket"), massive and behemoth the next ("Sever," "Nucleus"), the young quartet are notable for bringing the battle to a new flank -- in lieu of established festivals (Warped Tour, Ozzfest, et al.), Simon Says previewed their debut's April 20 release with a tour of West Coast high schools, taking their aggressive sonics straight to the converted. It might pay off, as the next part of the band's tour of duty includes special ESPN shows. First the kids, then the jocks -- grab them by their balls and their hearts and minds will follow.

-- Mark Woodlief