Mission of Burma is ready to party. At least, the leadoff track to the veteran band's new album, 'The Sound the Speed the Light,' which is released Oct. 6 on Matador Records, is titled '1, 2, 3, Partyy!' and launches the cult Boston post-punk band's fourth disc with a bouncy, bright punk anthem. "Sure, we're a big party band," bassist/co-vocalist Clint Conley mockingly tells Spinner. "Really, we don't know how to do anything other than just rock. We're a guitar band and we just go at it. There's a lack of energy in rock these days. When I see bands digging in and going at it, I like it. There's fewer and fewer. I was just listening to Future of the Left," he says, referencing the Bolshy UK trio, "and they just go for it. I love that."

After two decades apart, Mission of Burma reformed in 2002 and age, it seems, hasn't withered its restless agit-rock spirit. Conley thinks there's too much fancy stuff going on in rock and roll currently and he's having none of it. "It seems it's very fashionable to be -- this is the old fart section of the interview -- but there seems to be a dominance these days of this dream-soup cloud-pop," he says. "It's sorta interesting, but it feels like everything but the kitchen sink is thrown in. It doesn't grab me. Then I put on something like Heartless Bastards, it's blood and sinew. You don't need to traipse it up in pirate suits and stuff. I don't get it. Come on! Hose my eardrums out."

To make sure he's earned the right to be curmudgeonly, Spinner decides to age check Conley. "Oh, how old is this old fart?" he laughs. "I am 54. It's unbelievable. I'm so freakin' proud."