With lineup changes that would make Destiny's Child bite at their heals, comes Veronica, a band created in 1999 as only a side project, slowly progressed into an everyday event. With their third release, first on California's own Militia Group, and a lineup nearly set in stone, comes Hope For A Brighter Future.

Leading the way is "Alone Again in Spring," a nice pop tune but with a somewhat delayed chorus that led me a little off track. "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" reminded me of a song I couldn't put my finger on, but nevertheless, is extremely catchy and first highlights the keyboarding skills of Jesse Keenan formerly of the Pink Daffodils. "A Different Story," a highlight for me, is a great tune that should be up there with Jimmy Eat World and Saves The Day on MTV2 rotation. "No More Lonely Valentines" throws a curve ball with another set of vocals, feminine by the way, working for that "lovers singing together" feel. At first listen, I could have sworn it was a more melodic Scott Windsor of The Lyndsay Diaries but it's the up and coming Lois Volta. "Hometown Landscape" begins with some homely piano but only 30 seconds pass when the Synthesizer/ Keyboard comes back into play.

The keyboards on this album proved to be a double-edged sword. In one case, this is a bit of a trendsetter, however sort of jams it down the throat. New things are needed in small doses, but in this case, I "O.D."ed. Veronica is a little too melodic to call punk and a little too punk to call emo as they remind me of Fountains of Wayne or Jameson. This is, no doubt, going to be a part of the new crop of post-punk bands. Punk may soon be dead, but Veronica will surely live on.

- Review date: 1/13/02, written by Blake Garris