1x*****,2x****
Fortunately opener "Clap Your Hands" does not really represent the rest of the album, because it's an annoying circus/merry go round novelty song. "Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away" is a promising Velvet Undergound style tune. The spacey keyboards of "Over And Over Again" match the affected, twee squawk-vocals, and "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth" is instantly memorable for the string-bending guitar hook. I would think that the objective listener would be able to get into the VU meets Modest Mouse sound and the hooks, but the nasal wailing is an acquired taste, though this doesn't stop things from getting better. By "Is This Love"**** the vocals are just a quirky texture, and the melody is much more engaging, over the galloping guitar and drums. "Heavy Metal"**** is the most driving song yet, supported by a standout guitar melody. "In This Home On Ice"***** has a beautiful, shimmery sound reminiscent of The Cure, and though a cheat, the effects and multi-tracking make the vocals much smoother, while the effect gives closing "Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood" an 80's sound. "Gimme Some Salt" has a heavy, jagged bass-dominated feel more like Modest Mouse, but it is the anomaly breaking up the album's simple pop groove.
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