Social Code- He Said, She Said

ARTIST: Social Code

ALBUM: He Said, She Said

LABEL: Fifth Season Music

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 1-4-09

Already popular in their native Canada, Social Code introduce themselves to United States audiences with this five-song EP. A selection of catchy if not particularly innovative pop punk, it opens with one of the band's stronger tracks, the titular "He Said, She Said," which features just enough emotional edge to lead singer Travis Nesbitt's voice to make it sound like he means it, but not so much that he sounds like a whiner; further balancing the sensitivity are classic punk-style backing shouts on the chorus. "Beautiful" is another solid track, a hit in the making with its blend of grit and sweetness, and "The Shortest Line" makes things a bit more interesting with a waltzing rhythm and a backing layer of clean strummed guitars. The remaining tracks are on the softer side, too much sweetness and too little distortion; "Perfect Grave" at least has some solid guitar and vocal harmonies, but "Everyday (Late November)" ends things with a straight up power ballad that will probably endear them to pre-teen girls and no one else. There's some promising stuff here, but there's also too much sugar and not enough protein, though given current trends in the alternative scene, this release is bound to sell plenty of copies at Hot Topic.

Visit the boys online at www.socialcodemusic.com.