Perhaps the most distinctive group from the Fat Wreck Records family, the $wingin' Utter$ provide punk rock in an unusually calm, cool and collected manner. There’s neither over-the-top vocal whining and verbal tantrums nor hardcore mega-distortion with barreling drums to stereotype these Californians. The Utter$ do, however, harken back to the days of the 70's English music scene, a la Stiff Little Fingers and early Clash. While standard punk-fare three chord progressions still wander the proverbial sonic range, there's something refreshingly different about the Utter$ that just can't be pinpointed. Maybe it's the honesty of "I Need Feedback," which succinctly states the secret feelings of many of us: "Well I'm just fuckin' lazy/My whole life's making me crazy/But I wouldn't give any of it/Up even if you paid me" that represents the true essence of the Utter$.Other conceptualizations of reality include "This Bastard's Life" with its smooth melodies, and the title track, which demands listener attentiveness via the bluesy piano riffs and fuzzy guitar riffs. Fat Wreck births a winner with Five Lessons Learned -- everything about the album snarls suaveness with savvy accompaniment. You'll tap your feet, you'll want to clap your hands, and you’ll find yourself hitting the play button repeatedly.

Review by: Andrew Magilow