What would happen if Good Charlotte and Metallica (or any badmetal band) got together in a “civil union” and poppedout a kid? In a word — Lostprophets. On their major labeldebut album, startsomething, the band has some quality tracks and acouple of letdowns. These Straight Edgers from across the pond havealso changed their style a bit since their last album, The FakeSound of Progress, which was released in the fall of 2000.

As I listened to startsomething, I found myself driftingfrom loathing it to loving it. The first song on the disc,”We Still Kill the Old Way,” is bad. That’s thebest way I can put it. The guitars scream “bad metalband” and the lyrics are worse. (“Their apathy’snot infecting us / Maybe they ride on a different bus.”)

There is good news, though — the music gets better, as dothe lyrics. The third song, also their first radio single,”Last Train Home,” has great vocals, and the guitarsare beautiful. The drums offer a solid beat and tie everything upto make a very nice package from the start. The keyboards and pianoalso offer a very nice touch. “Burn, Burn” and “AMillion Miles” are mosh pit foot thumpers with an emoundertow, while “I Don’t Know” and “GoodbyeTonight” are slow-building explorations of rock with vocalsthat are reminiscent of Brandon Boyd of Incubus.

Overall, the album offers a good mix of music, and proves thatLostprophets have a good range in their style. Now, is it thegreatest Emo/pop-punk album of all time? Probably not. If you wantgood emo/pop-punk, go buy The Ramones or Taking Back Sunday.