'No Name No Color' is the debut long player from Middle Class Rut, a duo from Sacramento who pull off a convincing pissed off, punky mix of Jane's Addiction, Warrior Soul and The Offspring.

Zack Lopez(guitars/vocals) and Sean Stockham(drums/vocals)have been playing together since their teens and 'No Name No Color' is a collection of songs recorded over the last few years in their rehearsal space as they wrote them, rather than being taken to the studio and re-recorded. They lose nothing through this process, retaining a live spontaneous feel.

Album opener 'Busy Bein' Born' is a fine start,"maybe I sacrifice to feel like I'm alive" he sings, I believe him and it sets the tone for things to come. 'USA' sounds like Warrior Soul at their most punk and belligerent (see what I did there Warrior Soul fans?!). First single 'New Low' captures MCR's commercial side and is the perfect choice with a catchy chorus that for some reason reminds me of Midnight Oil and Men At Work, although sounding like neither! Does that make sense? Maybe it's the accompanying promo video I watched earlier or maybe they just sound Australian - anyway, good song.

'Are You On Your Way' is a contender for a single with a forlorn, almost haunting, on the road feel to it and has a trippy Floyd-like outro to it, seeming a lot shorter than its 6 minutes plus length. 'Alive Or Dead' could be an early Jane's Addiction song, is fantastic and I imagine would be a live favourite. 'Sad To Know' has a dirty riff that oozes attitude, Lopez (I presume it's Lopez) giving his best Perry Farrell meets Kory Clarke vocal yet; it's a full-on assault and now I really wanna see these guys live - this is an anthem for a pissed off generation.

Listening to this album, it's hard to believe it's just two guys, it has such a massive full sound and hats off to them for doing a fine production job. I just wonder how they will capture this sound live, obviously there is more than just drums and one guitar track on there. Yet these songs have been tried and tested on the road with the likes of Social Distortion, Alice In Chains and The Bronx so they must be able to pull it off.

A few songs such as 'I Guess You Could Say' with its 'Kashmir'-like riff and 'Dead End' are not very memorable after several listens but may be growers. The acoustic led 'Cornbred' is a more chilled offering and a great album closer.

All in all a cracking debut, Middle Class Rut have a bright future with their distinctive, modern commercial sound that could see them compete with the likes of the band they share their initials with (think about it!).

www.myspace.com/middleclassrut