*For this review, I thought it'd be appropriate if we play a game called, "Two Ways To Be A Music Critic." It's multiple choice, so just pick one and find out which one you are!

This latest offering from A Change Of Pace is: A) mislabeled, because it'd be "a change of pace" if this weren't exactly the pace the music industry were at right now; B) definitely the album of the year. In fact, while listening to Prepare The Masses, one gets the impression that: A) this is a group of late-adolescent attention whores, at best destined to be popular for a while, then tossed on the garbage heap; B) this album is a cathartic message of truth and emotion from fully conscious members of a generation.

This is truly an album crafted in such a way that forces its audience to ask themselves: A) how does anyone tell the difference anymore? This is just a piece of product. A faceless, interchangeable product created right from the belly and heart of capitalism; B) how did I end up in this tree? Did listening to this album move me to climb up here or was I levitated through a gravity-defying act of pop-punk amazingness?

All this being said though, there's really no need to run through a track-by-track analysis because: A) I'd bore you to death; B) you should throw on your No FX hoody and run to the record store immediately! But if you still need persuading, there's plenty of: A) turds; B) highlights here. Among them are: A) the fact that they're mimicking a popular (and albeit stale) sound; B) Adam Rodgers guitar solo on "White Lines and Lipstick", Johnny Abdullah's steady bass, Jon Kelly's insanely versatile drumming, and Torry Jasper's melodic vocals throughout.

In fact, the first thing you notice on the title track, "Prepare the Masses", is how: A) mind- numbingly repetitive and overproduced this album sounds; B) sensitive and almost painfully fragile Jasper's voice is over such energetic music. And that's in no small part due to producer Elvis Baskette's work on the album, who makes the band: A) sound like a pop-punk version of Incubus at their worst and Hoobastank at their best; B) better than most pop-punk bands who've been together for years.

Baskette, better known for his reputation of: A) working with bands who you might hear on radio station promos for your city's HOME OF THE ROCK! B) producing hit singles with lesser talented bands than ACOP, certainly crafts a hit-potential album here with buzzworthy singles like "Shoot From The Hip" and "Prepare The Masses", along with lustry pop-punk ballads like "Weekend Warriors" and "Safe And Sound in Phone Lines"- which seem a perfect for the closing credits of Laguna Beach.

Having said all this, I really can't go on to describe any more of this album, because: A) I hope that if they do hit it big, they'll start creating something substantial. But the odds are against it, seeing as that any band in the genre who's hit "TRL-dom" has continued to whore themselves out (see Blink 182, Good Charlotte, etc.) B) it sends shivers through me just thinking about the awesome potential of my new favorite band.

So, if you're a fan of the pop-punk "genre,": A) I'm sorry. I'm not sorry if you're offended by this review, I'm just sorry you like pop-punk in general; B) buy Prepare The Masses and get in on these guys early, so you can "I told you so" all your friends when they hit it big!

*Finished?? Ok! If you guessed all A's = You're either not into this band or a frustrated musician who, although thoughtful and incisive at times, is fueled by bitterness and envy.

If you guessed all B's = You're either really into this band, friends with them, or being paid by their record label.