by Jason Birchmeier
CPM 22 arose from Brazil's underground rock scene during the early 2000s to become one of the country's most popular homegrown punk-pop bands. Formed in S?o Paulo in 1995, the band, whose name is an acronym for Caixa Postal Mil e Vinte e Dois (i.e., P.O. Box 1022), is comprised of vocalist Fernando Estéfano Badauí (aka Badauí; born in 1976), guitarist Luciano Garcia (Luciano; 1978), guitarist Eduardo Ippolito Torrano Gomes (Wally; 1978), bassist Fernando Sanches Takara (aka Fernandinho; 1979), and drummer Ricardo di Roberto (Japinha; 1973). Influences include classic punk bands such as the Ramones and the Buzzcocks; punk-pop bands such as Green Day and Pennywise; and alternative rock bands such as Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins. CPM 22 recorded a couple demos during the late '90s before their album debut, A Alguns Quil?metros de Lugar Nenhum (2000), which they released independently. In 2001 they signed a recording contract with Abril Music, a short-lived yet prominent Brazilian label that subsequently released CPM 22 (2001) and Chegou a Hora de Recome?ar (2002). Both albums spawned a number of hits (including "Regina Let's Go," "Tarde de Outubro," "O Mundo dá Voltas," "Desconfio," "Dias Atrás," "N?o Sei Viver Sem Ter Você") and were very popular, selling over 150,000 and 180,000 copies, respectively. By the time of Felicidade Instantanea (2005), another popular album (this one boasting the hits "Irresversível" and "Um Minuto Para o Fim do Mundo"), CPM 22 were aligned with Sony BMG and facing a rising tide of backlash from longtime fans who cried "sellout" because of the band's mainstream acceptance. CPM 22 responded in 2006 with "Inevitável," a hit single that was fashioned as a return to form (i.e., punk without the pop); a live CD/DVD featuring the song, MTV ao Vivo (2006), was issued in tandem.
