by: Sun-J
A decade after breaking up, Operation Ivy ex-frontman Jesse Michaels returned in 1999 under a new alias Common Rider with the debut LP, "Last
Wave Rockers." And while nothing stands out like "Classics of Love," the Common Rider faithful will not be disappointed. The trademark reggae vibe and beat is still ever present. Returning with another LP, "This is Unity Music," the band brings out a softer Bad Religion sound. It's no coincidence that yet once again, the lead track is the stand out track. "Firewall" is a catchy trip over alternating, escalating riffs, which is perfectly symmetrically constant with the following track, "Set the Method Down.," and the next song, "Small Pebble" brings back warm memories of Sublime. The whole vibe and catchy mellow of the songs continues throughout the album. The cut "Blackbirds Vs. Crows" is a perfect change up to the flow of the songs. Complete with dual vocals, and a more country feel in the riffs, the drum patterns perfectly match tempo with Michael's vocals and the following song only follows suite. This is the strength of Common Rider on this album. Instead of just sticking to a certain sound, they jump
around and flirt with various styles, never straying to far away from the base, and cunningly, they stack songs for smooth transition. The album not only starts strong, but ends with a flurry. "One Ton" is a amped-induced trip through a mix of reggae, and rap-rock. A great pick up for "The Offspring" or "Sublime" fans.
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