by Heather Phares

Midtown's second album and major label debut Living Well Is the Best Revenge picks up more or less where Save the World, Lose the Girl left off, delivering plenty of revved-up, melodic punk-pop. Until the garage rock revival took off, this type of rock seemed to be the only alternative to nu-metal for anyone looking for guitar-driven music. Punk-pop just doesn't
sound quite as fresh as it did in the late '90s, and Living Well Is the Best Revenge's major label sheen adds to the album's slightly dated, constrained sound. However, as far as punk-pop goes, this is an expertly put together collection of songs; tracks like "Become What You Hate," "Get It Together," and "Like a Movie" mix appealingly big, crunchy riffs, close harmonies, and catchy hooks, and the group stretches their range a bit with the ballad "Perfect" and the slightly more aggressive "A Faulty Foundation." Punk-pop diehards will find a lot to like on Living Well Is the Best Revenge, but fans of more adventurous rock might want to look elsewhere.