Mutiny in Stereo (Mint)

No one does snotty rock that you can march to quite like the Smugglers. Lead singer Grant Lawrence snatches every lyric away like a spoiled brat grabs a toy from his playmate, snapping "Mine!" If you've ever seen the Vancouver pop-punk icons play live, then you know that before the elfin frontman hits the stage he's all business but once he straps those gumboots on, look out: he transforms into one wacky showman, second only to Nardwuar the Human Serviette.

His duality mirrors the music on his group's latest CD, Mutiny in Stereo. Sometimes, the band members seem to be gauging the listener's intelligence--if you can't see the irony in their tomfoolery, then it's obviously over your head. For instance, when Lawrence whimsically asks the question "Oh Larry, where are you tonight/Oh Larry, Larry, Larry/La la" over bouncing beats, he's being clever and if you don't get it, then you're the idiot. At other times, they showcase their musicianship with searing guitar solos that serve as a reminder that these guys have been around a long time and their madcap delivery is no accident.

The last track, "Do You Hear That Sound", is a warm, twangy instrumental that brings the album to the other end of the spectrum. But the first song, "Pirate Ships" is all about the Wellingtons.