5x****
"Old Domination" crashes in like the kool aid man, but takes several interesting detours to keep me guessing - it covers as much musical ground as some whole albums. "Count Sheep" is similarly complex, suggesting a philosophy of eschewing the mainstream for musical ambition. The somber keyboard/Todo Yasuda-led "In This City" is a complete departure, while straightforward and catchy "Window Display"**** and "Sold!"**** could be GBV/Pavement singles. Yasuda-led "Shoulder"**** goes deeper into Sioushee territory, with creepy, mechanical samples falling like fists. "Native Numb" goes farther under the deep rumbling bass and distorted samples, but is more abstract and is more the sum of some kick-ass parts than a pop song. While "Disposable Parts" continues in kind of a Francopop direction, most of the songs are pretty standard indie rock, like "Leave It To Rust" and "Natural Disasters", and in the angular than melodic direction. Of all the songs here, only the penultimate title song is solidly without merit, and the cyber-mechanical-Radiohead "Diamond Raft"**** though maybe misplaced at the end of the record leaves on a high note.
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