Left Alone

California breeds catchy punk rock like no other part of the country, and local boys Left Alone are no exception. Their third, self-titled album walks a fine line between street punk traditionalism and the varied pop experimentation of their label bosses, Rancid. Elements of ska, country, and pub rock abound, but all of it sounds like Left Alone. "Branded" operates on three-chord punk locomotion, with a classic shout-along chorus, but the keyboard-slicked "Bombs Away" smacks of sharp, Elvis Costello-style pop. These songs are tight and cohesive, presenting a unified vision of honest, working-class punk while gently poking the borders.