Among the catchiest albums of punk rock imaginable is “Steal This Record”, the fourth full-length record released back in 2001 from the long standing band from Detroit, The Suicide Machines. The simple, melodic, pop-ish choruses make for songs just persistent enough to play pleasantly in the back of your mind without being irritating; however, the Suicide Machines’ tunes were not always this way. Original fans are torn over the album; half will say it veers too far off from the up-tempo ska origins of the Suicide Machines, especially their acclaimed “Destruction by Definition” album. The other half appreciate the transition to pop punk as a refinement. “Steal This Record” is unarguably slower in tempo and much less blatant punk, but brings with it a beachy, peaceful, happy, hippie quality. Songs such as the chill-out reggae tune “Stand Up” which address numerous socio-political issues are influenced by the band members’ personal “Vietnam-era hippie approach”. Also represented are Blink-182-like sing alongs like “Leap of Faith” and “Scars”. The cover of REM’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” makes it difficult to comprehend that the song is a cover at all; as a cover should, it blends the classic elements of the original and the band’s own style with taste and skillful execution. Of course, the band hasn’t excluded numbers like “Killing Blow” that make homage to downright punk. If the Suicide Machines’ goal is to force the listener to forget any worries or latent anger, then their mission is met and conquered. Get your dancing shoes, a good smile, and maybe some weed out, and unwind with “Steal This Record”.