The Max Levine Ensemble

THE MAX LEVINE ENSEMBLE/ THE SPIRIT ANIMALS - split EP

Two very similar bands playing jangly-yet-distorted (I don't know how they manage to do that), sloppy-yet-together, sweet sing-along pop punk, the kind that can only be properly enjoyed at a basement party. If it were a battle of the bands, I'd have to pick THE SPIRIT ANIMALS as the winner, with their more desperate vocal qualities and general hookiness.  But this is not a competition (of course!) and MAX LEVINE ENSEMBLE do well too, having a little more party in their pants, and one hell of a catchy chorus in "Ghost Song"  Nice package, and nice looking bunch of kids. (PC)