** Face to Face

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

(LadyLuck Records)

Describing their fourth album, Ignorance Is Bliss, Face to Face use terms like "new direction" and "evolution," words that can be cause for genuine concern when you're dealing with a back-to-basics punk band. Yeah, true music fans shouldn't be averse to a little change now and again, but why fix what's not broken? And, sure enough, on "In Harm's Way," vocalist/songwriter Trevor Keith asks just that question: "Why do we need to change when we were perfect yesterday?" By slowing down the tempos and writing songs for the first time as a team, Face to Face do hit the mark a couple of times, but they lose more than they gain when it comes to aggression, urgency, and edge -- they just don't sound punk enough anymore. Keith's lyrics are as honest as ever, and his delivery is every bit as earnest as it has been in the past, but that's not supported by the musical muscle it requires.

-- Robin A. Rothman