It Goes Without Saying

Ori Release 2000 , Debut album from UK Punk trio led by Josh Doyle , produced by Steve Powers ( Robbie Wiliams ) .

One man's heaven is another man's hell, and in America, those who would rather not eat apple pie seem to spend their post-teen days rocking out to humorous songs about how much life sucks. Hence the success of Green Day, Blink 182, and Less Than Jake. Dum Dums are of a similar mind as those Yank punks. But while "The Kind of Day I've Had," "Everything," "Caught Me in a Trap," and "Killing Me with Kindness" are skate-punk tales of dead-end jobs and general suburban hell, it's skate-punk U.K. style. Theirs is rebellion with a pop sensibility more akin to the Jam and the Police than the Offspring. Consider that Steve Powers (Robbie Williams) agreed to produce them before they were signed. Like Williams, they have an endless supply of catchy tunes, a healthy does of rock attitude and, in "Lonely Hearts Company," "Army of Two," and the epic "Until My Ship Comes In," the ability to tug at the heartstrings and still be cool. --Dan Gennoe