AMG Review of Rumors and Headlines

Charles Spano
All Music Guide

Gritty, working-class, melodic punk rock (that sounds more from the early-'80s Cali scene than its watered-down followers) abounds on Rumors and Headlines, One Man Army's third album. At their best, the band's crunchy guitars evoke the Descendents or, like on the straight-up, singalong rock of "Have Nots & Heartbreak," the Ramones. But, Rumors and Headlines is a little patchy -- songs like "Leave Me Alone" quickly fade from memory and the chorus and handclaps on "Casualty" push the listener's patience. Still, when One Man Army is great, they're really great. "S.O.S." is a masterful piece of emotional Buzzcocks power pop that would tear up the punk stage.