It almost sounds like a bad idea: Combine the new-wave pop of the mid- to late "80s with the sound of second-wave grunge and doll it up with macho emo-like lyrics. What saves Caroline"s Spine"s debut are the rock-solid songs, tight band chemistry (especially Jason Gilardi"s propulsive drumming), and a complete nixing of pretension. This is one of those increasingly rare debut releases where the band has kept the overindulgences stored away. Jimmy Newquist"s oceanic vocals are the star of the show, and while some may compare him to Pearl Jam"s Eddie Vedder, his flipping between tender and terror is less bombastic. Caroline"s Spine avoids genericism like the plague, lifting cuts such as the beautiful ballad "Nothing to Prove" and the driving "Deep in Your Wake" above the clichés to which the titles hint. This is easily one of the better debut releases of 1999. --Jason Josephes