Les Savy Fav - Inches

Taking the best elements of Gang Of Four, "Meet Me In The Dollar Bin" creates a cool texture with the layered drum patterns and feedback, to which is added the band's frontal assault, but the long "there is no incident there's nothing incidental in this song" chant in the middle gets silly, as is the faux profound "Hold On To Your Genre". "We'll Make A Lover Of You" finally fills in the staccato attacks with a driving full band sound, while "The Sweat Descends" starts resembling early U2 and gives way to a straightforward anthem-chorus. Other than these moments the album is heavily skewed toward staccato new wave attacks, as appropriated by Franz Ferdinand. The musicianship needed to deliver the constant succession of riffs and fills is impressive but it gives the album a shrill, honky sound that's isn't for me.