This morning the friendly Fedex man delivered The Living End's new disc Modern Artillery right to my desk. When I was living in New Zealand, I became aware of The Living End as they were played on the radio in Christchurch all of the time. They're a fantastic punk band from Australia who broke through opening for Green Day in their country. You might describe them as a cross between Bad Religion, Green Day, and The Clash.

The new album comes after a few years' hiatus following lead singer Chris Cheney's involvement in a serious car accident. They've come back with a strong album, which I've been listening to all day. Hmm, and aparently they're playing in Portland, Maine at the end of the month. Maybe a road trip is in order. Too bad there aren't any Canadian tour dates posted.