2x****
Not your typical opening track, "In Particular"**** is definitely a slow burn, its mechanically pulsing flow counterpointed by trilling leads. "Hated Because Of Great Qualities" takes it so slow the minimal guitar seems in danger of going out for a smoke and missing the next chord, while "Loved Despite Of Great Faults" seems to be its Built To Spill / "I Want You She's So Heavy" counterpart. This slow groove more or less seems to dominate the album, with the exception of the frantic insect buzzing "Melody Of Certain Three" and self-indulgent screaming fit "Mother". "This Is Not" again is driven by the early new wave keyboards. Consistently the competent instrumentation is let down by vocals, Amadeo's strained and tuneless, and Makino's lazy Deerhoof delivery. "A Cure"**** is the most successful combination of dense instrumentation and the Built To Spill melodic approach, all held together by a snappy 1-2 hook. Similarly "For the Damaged coda" is solidly delivered, though it resembles "Karma Police" a bit too much.
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