Buckfast Superbee rescues pop-punk

San Diego band puts new buzz in fusion of genres with lyrical material

Named after a bionic honeybee discovered half a century ago in Buckfast, England, this bug's namesake will be more than a mere pest to today's music scene. Put away the fly swatter and prepare for a musical journey thanks to Buckfast Superbee.

Buckfast Superbee's self-titled third release deserves to be heard. This hardworking quartet straight out of San Diego, Calif., brings a new life to the world of pop-punk.

The band's performance style is part of a new wave of punk-influenced music that has yet to be given an appropriate title. Unlike the majority of pop-punk, Buckfast Superbee ventures beyond teenage relationships and the common dislike or work and school and onto succeeding in life and social emergencies.

As every successful album attempts, the opening tracks must hook the listener. "Faker," "Heartbreak Story" and "The Wednesday Idea" combine catchy guitar riffs with nonstop vocals to attach the listener to the melodies.

"Open Ended," the fifth song, is a change in pace from the driving melodies of the preceding tracks. Moreover, it allows the guitarists to shine and gives the listener a moment to sit back in amazement at what he or she has just heard. While it lyrically is variating, the slow pace and smooth harmonies of the song place it among the album's best.

From "A.M. Argument" early in the album, "Open Ended" is a great middle-of-the-album song. This song is the band's musical tribute to Murphy's Law. The lead singer and guitarist, who only is referred to as "T.J.," proclaims, "It always starts off right then everything goes wrong."

T.J.'s vocals span a wide range. At times, his voice resembles that of Chris McCaughan, the smooth lead voice of the Lawrence Times, as on "Saturday Kid," but more often of Tim Pagnotta from Sugarcult.

Drummer Milos "Mimi" Jahudka does an amazing job of keeping the rhythm and providing impressive fills. Derek Dutt and Kevin Stram supply the guitar and bass that make the band's final sound constant throughout the album.

Even the closing tracks on this self-titled release remain highly energetic. Track nine, "Disable Relationship," not only has a distinctive title, but also discusses how to respolve a relationship. The lyrics trace the steps to "start a chain reaction of deconstruction ego reduction," while attempting to salvage a once loving relationship.

"Song For Anthony," the second-to-last track, follows a young man's struggle to reach personal satisfaction. The lyrics follow a fill-in-the-blank pattern, giving the listener the feel that he or she has heard the song before. "It's easy to be famous, you just set yourself on fire." Like the lyrics announce, Buckfast Superbee has chosen a more challenging path to achieve recognition.

Named "Best New Artist" at the 1998 San Diego Music Awards, Buckfast Superbee has shared the stage with bands such as Unwritten Law. More recently, the group was nominated for Best Band in the same competition in 2003.

As "Open Ended" said, "All said, before long, you'll forget the words to this song." While a given listener may not remember the words to every track, Buckfast Superbee is unforgettable. No need to call the exterminator for this one — Buckfast Superbee is worth a listen.