Listenable (3.5/5)

on the first few listens, the disc actually comes off really well. sure, it's front-loaded, but that's expected. and, there are a couple of really awful songs, but that's also expected. one of the more startling things that is noticed on first listen is the change in the singer. all of a sudden, he sounds like perry farrell - a pretty heavy curveball. he even had a dad, apparently. but, seriously, there's a big change in confidence here, and a lot of technical improvement, meaning that it may no longer be fair to hit him on his vocals. good for him.

the second track, the one after the pointless introduction, modulates between a farrell-emulating rockout and a pastoral section that sounds indebted to mid 70s mike oldfield. the third track merges 60s jangle and psych pop with a menacing, almost thirlwellian, piano riff and some african percussion, eventually fading out into some accordion playing. sounds like erratic, abstract pop, right? fun? eh?

well, the quality falls off at track four and the fifth is just as bad. it picks up a bit, but....

while the first couple of tracks hold up better than the rest of the disc, the disc as a whole really *does* lack a certain sense of urgency and, as a result, becomes a rather disengaged listen. the disc meanders along in a sort of a haze, refusing to define itself as much of anything one way or the other. but, on repeated listens, that disengagement all of a sudden makes sense. the pitchfork reviews have talked about this point. it's an excellent observation. being disengaged is taboo in indie rock; it's a massive insult. yet, it ought not to be. if you're not engaged, you're not engaged; art works with real feelings, not manufactured ones. i'd rather hear an expression of that disengagement than a manufactured connection. perhaps that may turn people off, but not everything is for everyone.

ironically, once you recognize just how disengaged the band is from the process, the disengagement becomes engaging - it's the disengagement itself that becomes the emotionally compelling content of the disc.

radiohead. yeah, that should shut you up.

i'd like to give the disc a higher mark, but the songwriting is admittedly weak at points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q19nTsKF3LI