Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

"Home Sweet Home" rocks pretty hard, heavy on the three chord progressions and happy hum along harmonies-so we'll call 'em Power Pop with a punch… or if you prefer, "polished" Punk for the parenting types. There's some fan friendly, good time, uptempo character in their tunes on their current self-produced release. Taking their cue from the fellow sand and surf So. Cal faves, Soul Asylum, and with a "Green"-tinted, slightly "Blinkish" persona that carries light-weight lyrical lines of local scenes, boy meets girl type of stuff and even infusing heavier topical matters with a colorful smirking charm. 

We get a nice one-two punch at the end with the slowly dramatic "Mr. Sunshine," and the quick-wristed closer "Chatroom, both completely opposed to each other and further stamping the accessible agility the group established to me a few tunes earlier. 

Overall B9, formerly known as "Benign" and equally charming either way, has a pretty formulaic MTV-led style that's broad-based and fun for all and sure to land 'em a few hits before they're done, so don't be surprised too see 'em turnin' up on yer local store shelves before too long.