After attending an MxPx concert one night, Andrew Kitchen caught the bug; the punk rock bug, that is. And that's how it all started for the Aussie boys of Antiskeptic. Now, four years later, a record deal with 88 and Toupee Records, as well as being on bills with bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Rhubarb, and many others, the bug has turned into a daily virus. Change My Ways is the band's 2001 EP leading to a full-length slated for early 2002.

Starting things off is "Change My Ways," a catchy punk pop-filled anthem with resemblances to Slingshot 57 while "Called" embarks on something Duran Duran might do if they were punk; but goes into simplistic lyrics and a hook-filled chorus. "1:40" is a song that lasts a minute and 40 seconds. Coincidence? I think not. But it does begin in a sort of Relient K style, adding trumpets. "Jimmy Was Always Thinking" sounds of Blink 182 or Slick Shoes while "Resolution" is more Relient K getting the foot-tapping going.

Antiskeptic has a good thing going for them. Trust me though, they are absolutely not MxPx crazed fans, their own thing definitely shines through. With the right distribution in the States, these boys will break through on radio. Let's just hope they haven't caught that train too late.

- Review date: 3/2/02, written by Blake Garris