Resolve

Sounds like … varied and straightforward punk rock with the same melodic sensibilities as MxPx, Relient K, Blink 182, and Foo FightersAt a glance … Last Tuesday is elevated above typical modern punk with superior production, musicianship, and lyrics that are spiritual-yet-relevantTrack ListingHave You Seen Me?All These ThingsIt's Not Too LateToday Was LongBest DependentMe FirstThe MissionArmchair SanctuaryEverything So FarYou Got MeI'll Never UnderstandEmpty/Resolve

The temptation is to dismiss Last Tuesday as yet another punk rock band in an already crowded scene. However, this trio from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania already has celebrity credentials. Their national debut, Resolve, was produced by Joe Marlett (Blink 182, Foo Fighters) and Relient K frontman Matthew Thiessen.

This energetic album refrains from overproduction without sounding raw or amateur. Thiessen apparently helped to shape the melodic pop aspects while Marlett encouraged the band to let loose their inner rock animals. The little touches also help, varying up the arrangements while broadening the sonic palette to add some occasional keyboards and percussion to the usual guitar, bass, and drums.

Additionally, Last Tuesday is intentional-yet-clever about their faith, even depicting the sign of the benediction and Matthew 5:30 on the album cover. It's a tall order to offer Christianity-inspired lyrics that are still relevant to non-believers, but somehow the band pulls it off, clearly identifying such subjects as compromising beliefs ("All These Things"), relying on Jesus ("Best Dependent"), and comprehending salvation ("I'll Never Understand," "It's Not Too Late") without relying on Christian jargon.

Yet it's not hard to figure out who guitarist Steve Gee is singing to in the worshipful finale or "Today Was Long": "You know I want to be strong/But then it's hard to see how you're controlling everything/And how I need you now." It's also refreshing to see someone taking the youth's passive cynicism toward the church to task in "Armchair Sanctuary."

Resolve doesn't stray far from the typical modern punk sound, but with so many bands in the genre these days sounding clichéd and derivative, this one is as enjoyable as a young, refined MxPx. If punk is to remain in style, thank goodness we have bands like Last Tuesday breathing more proficiency and meaning into their music.