Scott Lucas is a busy man. While he's released several fine albums as Scott Lucas & The Married Men, he's now found time to squeeze in his original gig, Local H. Along with drummer Brian St. Clair, Lucas crafts tuneful, aggressive pop-punk that never loses its hooks or its bite. "Cold Manor" immediately breaks out the pleasantries in the duo's sound, while "Night Flight to Paris" ensures we don't forget just how angry things can get. Lucas prefers to write his songs toward a grander concept, and here he focuses on life and politics in the year 2012. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney can be heard in a soundbite, while "They Saved Reagan's Brain" skewers against the GOP. Yet it doesn't sound like Democrats are off the hook, either. Frustration with Wall Street greed and a lack of working-class jobs affect Lucas' worldview, and he turns it into tunes that still retain a shred of joy in their delivery. Guitars are thick and rich, and drums pound like there's no tomorrow. It's well-recorded but never sterile.