Artist: The O.C. Supertones Album: Unite Label: BEC Recordings Rating: 8 out of 10

The end is finally here for fans of Christian ska-punk figureheads The O.C. Supertones, who plan to call it a day at the end of the year. But at least one final tour and this best-of simply titled Unite should serve as fitting memorials for the beloved band. Though it lacks any new songs, this compilation offers the majority of the energetic, hook-laden songs fans have come to love throughout the Supertones decade-plus career. Of course there's a healthy dose of cuts from the group's most popular and arguably best album, Supertones Strike Back, and songs like the title track and Unite still sound as fun and energetic as they did back in 1997. New recordings of two cuts from the band's debut, Adventures of..., bring the production up to snuff on crowd sing-alongs like "Adonai" and "The O.C. Supertones" and give devotees a reason to pick up this CD. The Supertones' evolution from underground heroes to Dove Award winners is also well-documented on Unite. The genre-bending Chase the Sun and the pop-leaning Hi-Fi Revival's contribute two and four tracks, respectively, as do their back-to-roots follow-ups Loud and Clear and Revenge of... The wide variety of styles represented on these songs show what a truly diverse and talented band the Supertones were. There's punk, rap, reggae, hardcore and straight-up ska all sprinkled liberally in this collection's 20 selections, making for a listening experience that's never boring or monotonous something their peers' records could often be accused of. Aside from breaking down musical barriers, the Supertones also destroyed some commercial ones. Their hook-laden melodies couldn't be ignored by radio and MTV, paving the way for their labelmates on Tooth & Nail Records and compatriots on the scene. More importantly, the Supertones always stayed true to their purpose, never putting worldly success above their faith and making sure that they and their fans had a great time while doing it. Frontman Matt Morginsky puts it best in Unite's liner notes. "It's been a wonderful, frustrating, exhilarating and dangerous road. We've never forgotten our calling and God has never forgotten us. In the end we will not stand before him as the Supertones, but as his sons." Amen. - Todd Thatcher