New generation needs a flashlight

Canada's Flashlight Brown is here to prove nothing new. The band's album My Degeneration is the same old pop punk glory of power chords and simple harmonies. For what it is, the album is solid and Flashlight Brown doesn't reek with the insincerity. \nThe lyrics are all about parties, loserdom and teenage frustration that carries over to 20-somethings. \nThis is what Green Day got off on when we were still in middle school. Flashlight Brown's energy is more contrived, hanging on the driving snare beat instead of the meaning of what Matt Hughes and Fil Bucchino are singing. Instead of anthems to being 17 and angry, the songs sound like they're coming from bored kids filling up their time. At the least, Hughes and Bucchino mean what they say even if what they say has no meaning. Sometimes the lyrics' void is what makes My Degeneration fun. The album is structured, with Dookie's Rob Cavallo taking the production chair. With guitar solos, perfect levels and the cute little harmonies, the major label intrusion takes away all of the possibilities of the joy of young punks, even from the wannabes.