For 22 years this band has bridged noise rock with post-punk. The album opens in a driving sonic manner that only makes sense for these guys. They ebb down and let things breathe more on the more rock n roll flavored "Don't Be Sorry". Deadpan baritone vocals create the narrative as the creeping groove flows under him. This is a much more effective display of what they are capable of as songwriters where the opening track hits you with sound. It was effective in getting your attention."Fear of Transformation" works off a stark electronic pulse. It plays with sound more abstractly. If you were really high it might fuck with you a bit.
"Join the Crowd' hovers on the jangling drone of guitars as the vocals sit back and mutter from the background. "Bad Idea' is a pretty fitting title while it rides a solid bass groove it is overcome by noise. "You Got Me' has more in common with Sonic Youth, who paved the way for this band. These guys are darker than Sonic Youth, and less punk. The vocals once again sit further back in the mix. "Plastic Fture' dances over things more like Joy Division. The guitars keep a palm-muted groove but are more chill than some of the sonic tantrums they are capable of kicking up.
"Have You Ever Been in Love " is darker so works best for me. The guitar tones on this album are pretty great when they crank up and move forward in the mix, with a surf rock reverb to them, With both the vocals and guitars more present on this one, it's probably the best song on the album. The last song "Comfort Never Comes' finds the reverb-laced guitar ringing in and out in the night, but not as present in the mix as the previous, with the vocals coming from the back door or the basement. I like the mood, but the song itself would work better with a different mix. I will give this album a 9, making it not there best but a pretty solid stab at what they normally do which is delivered this time with a dreamy surf rock melancholy.
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