At first glance at the new Midtown CD, Living Well Is the Best Revenge, the group could easily be lumped into the category of the hipper-than-thou, party-all-night rock and rollers--with their moody, pouting faces and ultra-trendy attire. But don't let the glossy photos fool you; these are punkers with a purpose.

According to the band's sleekly designed website, midtownrock.com, these guys are doin' it not only for the fans, but for the animals as well. The band is a huge supporter of PETA, its members are all strict vegetarians, and they find that music is their vehicle to spread the word against animal cruelty. Comprised of guitarists/vocalists Tyler Rann and Heath Saraceno bassist and vocalist Gabe Saporta, and drummer Rob Hitt, Midtown went from virtually underground to touring with Blink-182 in a little more than a year.

This third effort from the New Brunswick, NJ band opens with a fast-paced, driving track entitled "Become What You Hate", which playfully laments the pitfalls of young love and transitions seamlessly into the similar-sounding yet still significant "Still Trying".

The happy "Like A Movie" is similar in style to Midtown contemporaries Blink-182 or even Sum-41. With its light, bouncy lyrics, this song teeters on the edges of pop but shows off the band's vocal skills, with voices eerily floating in and out then screaming out over heavy guitar grinding.

Skip to "Perfect", which sounds like it should be on the soundtrack of a teen blockbuster. Although the majority of the eleven tracks sounds similar, "Perfect" stands out, with a slightly slower tempo and excessive harmonization.

As a whole, this album is non-stop action. Living Well is excellent for those kick back and chill parties or even late-night driving to nowhere in particular. Even though a few tracks are redundant and some lyrics are less than insightful, Midtown's energy and vocal ability more than make up for it

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