The first song, "Rock the City," is something that will light up my future homemade compilations for years to come. Song five, "Freedom Station," could...

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The first song, "Rock the City," is something that will light up my future homemade compilations for years to come. Song five, "Freedom Station," could have easily nestled its way onto RANCID's "Life Won't Wait," album, and track 10, "My Life My Choice My Call," could be riding the next wave of motivational speaking. Overall, "Calling the Public" is a fun disc, and one that only suffers from slight lack in power from a production standpoint. However, if you enjoy singing along to every word in a jovial fashion, this is some great stuff.

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While not completely eschewing their previous hardcore sound, Calling The Public does herald something of a stylistic change for 59 Times The Pain. They...

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While not completely eschewing their previous hardcore sound, Calling The Public does herald something of a stylistic change for 59 Times The Pain. They have moved back to a 70s sound, clearly heavily influenced from the likes of The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers, but with a modern sensibility and high production values that gives, paradoxically, a fresh sound amongst the frenetic power-chording of today.

Song quality throughout is high, if not quite brilliant. First track "Rock The City" sets the scene, with a powerful chorus making it a statement of intent for the rest of the album. It is 59 Times The Pain giving their call to arms to the punk community. "The power of the masses we need to get in motion analternative way/Like a timebomb set on now we must all detonate the backbeat of today" shouts vocalist Magnus Larnhed. Title song "Calling The Public" is a old school blast of punk rock that will bring a tear of nostalgia to the eye of many a crusty punker around the world, and "Room With a View" features a Stooges-esque guitar riff and vocal effect. Indeed, the only real criticism that can be levelled at this album is that it is perhaps a little too derivative of other touchstone acts of punk's past. But this is a weak argument against some of the towering songs on display here.

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