Self- deprecating irony can only be taken so far. Consider, for example, a team of British hooligans by the name of Goober Patrol and their latest international offering, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Drunk. Even the most critically- minded among us, upon considering both band and album titles, probably wouldn't expect any groundbreaking perceptions of the world to be offered by this crew. The title of the album's first track, "1000th Beer," solidifies these suspicions even further. "Great, more songs about beer bongs and sphincter fallout, just the sort of thing missing from my life," I mistakenly think aloud; my roommates run upstairs before I get a chance to explain myself, so left alone, I decide to spin the Goobers, anticipating what hate- filled words I will use to describe their vapid brand of punk excess to the loyal Pitchfork multitude.

Well, I'll be darned. These boys have brains! Upon closer consideration, an album title that parodies an acclaimed literary work (Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being) should have been my first tip-off that these boys had concerns beyond what hue their drunken- induced vomiting would produce if they mixed prune juice with their lagers. "1000th Beer" isn't an alcoholic fantasy, it's a proclamation of the speaker's desire to progress in life: "I've got to move/ I can't stagnate/ the lure of fresher paths awaits."

The rightful stage has been set, the true yearnings of the band have been revealed. As they state in "I Forget Your Name," "We punch the air/ Punk poetry/ But it takes more than hollow anthems to make me sing." Living up to their words, the band uses their lyrical forum to offer something substantially more than "hollow anthems." These are thoughtful punks, indeed. They can be downright witty at times, too. I'm quite tickled by one of the song titles in this respect, a song entitled "Nothing Can Go Wrogn." (Get it?)

The band's music isn't quite as praiseworthy, though the album contains its share of notable moments. When they're at their best, Goober Patrol are reminiscent of an angrier and noisier Jawbreaker, strong yet thought- provoking. "Not That Shrewd" is a strong representation of the band's greatest talents, but unfortunately, its incidents are rare compared to the more abrasive and frequently unintelligible rantings showcased elsewhere in the album.

Nevertheless, Goober Patrol have been figured out for the intelligent chumps they truly are. It's a shame some people won't get beyond their false appearances long enough to discover this truth.

-Kevin Ruggeri