They just keep getting smarter.

If you were around for their 2003 release, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right, But Three Do you know what I'm talking about. Their tune "In Love with the 80's (Pink Tux to the Prom)" beats the crap out of Bowling for Soup's name-dropping 80's pean from last year. It's smarter, livelier, and leaves one with a better impression of the Brat Pack Decade. The standout from that album, though, is "Mood Ring," where our Canton, OH, homeboys dream wistfully of an external indicator of their girlfriend's feelings. Check it out...

But now, they give us this gem.

This week's AC1 balances moderated punk screaming, banjo picking (!!!), Tesh-worthy piano segues (!!!!), intelligent lyrics and one of the best titles of the decade (so far) to give us something that stands right up to the hype of Green Day's American Idiot.

I'm excited to see what they might do next.

This pick might have something to do with the fact that I drove a K car around for a while as my sole means of transportation (It did lend gravitas to "If I had a $1000000"). But I invite you to check out this tune, and assail!

Here's another level of cool. These stand-up guys are also very devoted to their Christian faith. But unlike contemporary Christan acts that seem to be in the industry because it gaurantees a (red-state) audience, these guys know that the talent God gave them should be used to reach as many people as possible.

So growing up in this post-modern media-soaked world, they seem to know that if they make the best music they can, make an audience-attracting splash in the music world, and then show everyone that all rockers aren't druggie/drunkie/f-word spewin' blowhards, they might be able to turn more minds on to the Message, than if their songs were their only message.

Just something to think about, Stryper, if your comeback takes hold...

They're getting Warped this summer, too... Guys, if you're tuning in: The middle finger can be a sign of respect at the Warped Tour. Don't let it get you down. And pretend that all the people showing rock-on "devil horns" are just Texas fans. It helps.

I've got some catching up to do on the AC1s... So keep tuning in!