by Erik Hage

Mustard Plug aren't trying to reinvent the wheel on Yellow #5; the group is still just chugging away at the strong punk-ska blend that they rode in on years ago. This is another solid outing that continues the path charted on previous albums. "Not Enough," the strongest track here, is a good representative statement with a catchy, pop/punk chorus underpinned by rousing horns. Meanwhile, "Get It Goin' On" leans more to the frenetic punk side of things; the only tip of the hat to ska being the arbitrary presence of horns (buried in the jumble of power chords). The anthemic "Just a Minute" with its euphoric chorus is another highlight, as is the more punked-up "Safe." Overall, however, the group is at its best when relying more on catchy hooks bolstered by the horn section, rather than when trying to rough things up with heavy doses of punk. But Yellow #5 remains another solid effort from Mustard Plug.