Search - Eclectics :: Look Ahead

Accidental and intentional eclecticism

04/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though not every track is a winner, this is a good CD overall. To me it is a freeze frame of a band in transition, from a punk ska band to an odd rock band, though elements of punk and ska remain. "Still Angry" is nearly straight up old-style Elvis Costello, but well enough executed to retain its own worth. "So Long As You Use a Knife" is a rocker centering around a quick organ line, with lyrics based on a Normam Mailer poem. "Homesick" is a fairly typical happy-go-lucky punk ska song, and it's a good one at that. "Man On the Scene" is a sort of Stones-esque rockin' three chord ballad. "Indication" is a cover of a wonderful Zombies song. The song itself is fantastic but this version is a little weak, particularly the vocal work. "Malleability" is my favorite song on this album, for being a modern day bubble gum song with warped lyrics about the fairer sex. "So Long Now" is nearly a country ballad, again suprisingly well-done. The most impressive track is the closer, a cover of the Beach Boys "Here Today," with proper instrumentation and an overall sense of fun. Most every song on this CD features a different vocalist, 7 in all, from various facts of the Chicago "scene." I think this CD is interesting as a picture of a band moving away from punk/ska but not quite having found that new direction yet, and I think it's simply good in terms of good songs and good listening."