The Living End

The Living End had a small hit about two years ago with the song "Prisoner of Society" off its self-titled second album. It was catchy and got me tapping my feet. After a stint on last summer's Van's Warped Tour, the Living End is back with a third album, Roll On.\nThe Aussie trio doesn't resemble other Aussie rock bands who have made a dent in the American music scene (AC/DC, Silverchair, the Bee Gees). Instead it has taken on the age-old tradition of punk rock: Play as fast as you can, intertwine the music with "revolutionary" lyrics (something about anarchy and the government being bad) and pretend to be a true do-it-yourselfer while being distributed by your mainstream label.\nOh, let's not forget about the most important aspect of every punk band: the horrendous Johnny Rotten impersonation each singer does. Chris Cheney, the band's singer, has his impersonation down pat, and like so many before him, it's horrible. This type of thing makes me embarrassed to be a Sex Pistols fan.\nAnd, yes, there must be a Clash rip-off as well. Of course the Living End tries its best, in the reggae-influenced "Blood on your Hands," an obvious rip-off of the Clash's "White Man in Hammersmith Palais." The only problem is Joe Strummer and the Clash understand what the basis of reggae music is. Strummer understands what the "one drop" is. The Living End has no concept of it.\nThe Living End is once again slated to perform on the Van's Warped Tour this summer. Surrounded by equally mediocre talent (except for Weezer), the Living End won't stand out on the Warped Tour. We wouldn't want the band to realize how bad it really is.