In Rotation: The Grow Ops - The Grow Ops

Imagine turning a corner onto a block party where the 90's never died. The Grow Ops' eponymous album, released at the beginning of August, sounds like it was recently discovered in a time capsule. Buried for 20 years and unearthed and guess what? Nineties pop punk can still be the life of the party. Crank this up and let the nostalgia flow as you listen to new music that sounds very familiar.

When a band induces a strong wave of recognition like this, they clearly know what they are going for and they are hitting that note with precision. The 12 songs that comprise The Grow Ops were recorded over the last five years. The band had help on the technical end from people who have been around the block before. Mass Giorgini, who worked with Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Smoking Popes, Groovie Ghoulies, The Lillingtons and many more during the 90s, mastered The Grow Ops. The Screeching Weasel comparisons abound here (even the logo on The Grow Ops' bandcamp page resembles the Screeching Weasel logo).

Anti-Flag comes through late in the album. "I'm On Something" sounds like it could be a B-side from Die For the Government (Giorgini worked on Underground Network, The People Or The Gun and The General Strike). "Shit Goes On" and "Can't Get Enough" are two of the catchiest songs on a solid album. You may have heard this before, but if you're anything like me, you're going to want to hear it again. And again. Stream The Grow Ops below or on bandcamp. The Grow Ops play Cairo Ale House in West Chicago with Lever and Joy Shooters on September 25. More on that here.