Punk-rockers have been concerned with “selling out” since the inception of the genre. For many of these bands, that simply means signing a record deal. Yet, for signed artists, selling out is more about a pre-conceived effort to maximize profit, regardless of what they previously released.

Tooth and Nail’s The Classic Crime takes the necessary precautions on their latest release, The Silver Cord, to cater to the crowd. Despite TCC’s motives in making The Silver Cord, their follow-up to Albatross is a consistent collaboration of successful (or previously successful) methods of making a post-everything record.

Vocalist Matt McDonald & Co. recycle post-hardcore/ post-punk music reminiscent of Further Seems Forever’s How to Start a Fire and Blindside’s Silence and akin to Saosin’s recent self-titled debut. Vocalist Matt MacDonald is the star of the record as his vocals swing from Jason Gleason (formerly of Further Seem Forever) or Christian Lindskog’s (Blindside) sing-scream to the soaring melodies of Cove Reber (Saosin).

But the recycling doesn’t end there. Cognizant of recent trends to reinvent retro-pop/rock, the band employs necessary clapping, cowbells, chanting, synth, and guitar-tapping (“Grave Digging” and “Abracadavers”). Songs like “5805” emanate Panic at the Disco, a band guilty of such vain attempts at reinvention. The cycle continues to revolve.

Almost like a lottery at Goodwill, MacDonald becomes prophetic in “Closer Than We Think” when he sings, “We will walk through the valley of the shadow of the boring.” Obviously lyrically lax, I wish MacDonald would take his own advice when he sings, “Wipe the cliché from my eyes, it’s killing me.” The Classic Crime is consistent in producing clichés both musically and lyrically.

Nevertheless, The Classic Crime is quite the cover band. The production by Michael Baskette (Incubus, Story of the Year, Chevelle) is completely flawless. Sonically, The Silver Cord makes for the perfect rock record, subdued when necessary and explosive when… well, almost every chorus is explosive. Needless to say, TCC have perfected doing what others have already done well. Risking not recycling past reviews complaining about a lack of originality, I conclude. However important the message is that The Silver Cord seeks to convey, it is lost in mass of voices screaming the same thing.

Highlight Track: “Abracadavers”