AMG Review of Rubbing Doesn't Help

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

For their third album, Magnapop sands away even more of their punk edges, leaving behind a competent, and occasionally engaging, post-grunge pop-punk band. The production on Rubbing Doesn't Help is too big for the songs, with echoing drums and fat, loud guitars, but there are enough strong songs scattered throughout the album to indicate that the group's talent for tuneful yet intense pop hasn't abandoned them. They just don't know how to articulate their ideas very well on Rubbing Doesn't Help.