keepers 3
keeper avg .272
Side one shoots by with a sampling of styles, competently played. Opening track "Back In The Box" (the "universe expo confusion controls" song) and "25 Hours" (the one with all the harmonics" buzz along energetically. "Easy Money" and "Candidate" chime and echo with a sound so signature of Johnny Marr they're completely predictable. And "Dynamo" is another energetic number, which probably coincidentally sounds exactly like "Anytime" by My Morning Jacket. But nothing has the staying power of the much more subdued, "The Trap"****, the album's middle track, the one-note chorus melody playing nicely against the melodically textured backing. Next, the thumping title track is so driving and at the same time generic it should have lead off the album, and "Boys Get Straight" is another musical race. "Speak Out Reach Out"**** has a great biting punctuated riff, similar to Gary Numan "Cars". "This Tension" has more very Johnny Marr-like guitar, but closing track "Little King"**** has one of the more memorable riffs and great melodies to go with it. The album just turns out to be better when the song itself is the focus rather than the amazing guitar work that is expected of Johnny Marr.
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