*** Down by Law

FLY THE FLAG

(Go Kart)

There are two kinds of songs every suburban street punk feels compelled to write: the police brutality song and the screw-the-government song. Down by Law, who hail from the DC scene, are the quintessential suburban punk band, and they do both kinds. Singer/ringleader Dave Smalley has a master's degree in political science, and in the album's liner notes, "A New Manifesto," he flexes his head about freedom and jots down his musings on the subject for the kids. Smalley won't be kicking ass at the United Nations anytime soon, but Fly the Flag will definitely please the melodic street-punk establishment. "Automatic" and "Man on the Street" have teeter-totter verses, those rigid mod grooves that get you to shake your head from side to side, and those prickles-on-the-neck choruses. The bedroom brooder "Find It" finds Smalley questioning the world while ringing chords and airy background vocals form angelic pop halos over the gorgeously desperate scenario. And when Down by Law let the guitars roar, the vocals growl, and all that punky bullshit fly, I can't help being reminded that screwing the government was always more fun than police brutality.

-- Lorne Behrman