The Supertones' second album -- the appropriately titled
The Supertones Strike Back -- may not be as consistently entertaining as the Orange County Christian ska-punk band's debut, but it's still a dynamic, enjoyable listen. Working from a blueprint
Operation Ivy and
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones wrote, the group has an infectious, party-ready sound, but their Christian beliefs guarantee that they have deeper lyrical meanings than the average party-hearty ska-punk group. At times, the blend of religion (which, admittedly, doesn't surface on each song) and ska can sound a little forced -- which wasn't necessarily the case on the debut -- but the end result is highly enjoyable indeed. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine