Listening to the third release from Plankeye, Commonwealth, it becomes strikingly obvious that there's nothing wrong with getting better. The band has come out of the garage with a cleaner, leaner sound, full of loud melody, without losing the energy and sonic irreverence that gave them their edge in the first place. Lyrically, the band is just as fearless; where "alternative" bands are often afraid to come right out and say anything, the songs on Commonwealth come right to the point: Many of the songs are hard rock prayers, directed toward Christ, full of hard-knocks wisdom and humility; other songs deal frankly with love and life, with the everyday occurrences that end up in your prayer life. Some people feel like music is somehow cooler when played badly and pointlessly; fortunately, bands like Plankeye believe in the importance of striving to make your art and your craft better. Commonwealth is a step forward, a rock-fest which pulls no punches.