First Class - Somewhere in the Grey (Johann's Face/Patsy Presents)

Reviewed by Mark Oster

More hooks than a bait shop, First Class is a high energy four piece out of the city. Their debut ep Somehere in the Grey rips through six songs in less than twenty minutes, tightly performed by the band and captured by Dan Precision of Bombshelter Studios (formerly of the legendary 88 Fingers Louie). I'm glad they chose to record with Dan, because he knows as well as anyone how to highlight the aggression in addition to the melody of this melodic punk act, and it sticks to you like glue as a result. Fans of NOFX might dig this album, as well as fans of Taking Back Sunday and their ilk, as long as the concept of punk hooks with teeth doesn't scare them.

Originally posted in Issue 1.1, August 2004