A tribute album is an interesting choice for a debut. Laced with actual snippets of New York City café conversations and subway trains, that's exactly what Manhattan is – a tribute to SKATERS' adoptive home town. Populated with fast-paced lo-fi rock, Manhattan has drawn comparisons to The Strokes and The Ramones. And with superb punk riffs on I Wanna Dance (But I Don't Know How) and the inevitable hit, Miss Teen Massachusetts, they're justified allusions. Unfortunately, the band's misstep into faux Caribbean beats on Band Breaker and Fear Of The Knife will prevent the record from achieving Is This It status.
