Angular

"Jangular" might be a better name for the CD. They're after that post-punk, post-math sound, a genre marked by angular guitar lines and intricate rhythms (for reference, see Cursive). Instead, they come off proggy, like a noisy version of Yes. Songs like Track 2 (the listing is askew, so don't ask me its name) evolve into a noise symphony and screaming. For this Minneapolis trio to ever make it past the stereotype, they'll need more distinctive melodies, which this doesn't have. The singer scream-scats more than sings, probably because there's no way to create a melody amidst the cacophony of confusion. Messy, but not messy fun.

back to   Posted Aug. 26, 2003. Copyright © 2003 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.