The Appearance
Lost in Aurora
Label: Adrenaline Music
Release Date: May 22, 2007

What? Another southern California post-punk band drawing influences from 80s metal, Ska and Punk who are really just ripping off everything else on the radio? Have you ever heard of such a thing?

Oh…you have? Really.

We thought Orange County group the Appearance was one of a kind. After all, SoCal skater punks don’t usually have enough ambition to land a recording deal rife with recycled material, right?

With an initial title of “Are We Not Entertained?” the group is almost begging us to compare them to their modern rock peers — especially by infecting their fans with Sony’s rootkit malware. Unfortunately, formulaic rock crap is still selling well this year.

The title single, “Lost in Aurora,” is teeming with so many muddied layers, our brain involuntarily tuned it out as ambient noise. Perhaps that’s what they’re going for to strike it big — subconsciously annoy your fans into forgetting they’re listening to you. Great game plan, guys.