3 keepers
keeper avg .250
TSOOL's approach on the fourth album is the same as the previous three: competent, faithful homage to classic rock with some good hooks along the way. Like the second album "Extended Revelation," Origin creeps in slow with "Believe I've Found," like a 60's spy movie theme as played by The Monkees, before rocking it up like the Who meets MC5 on "Transcendental Suicide." The band finally breaks out of the 60's/70's revival vein with "Bigtime"****, an speedy new wave blast with a 90's guitar-driven focus. "Mother One Track Mind"**** is similarly energetic, showing what Keith Richards and MC5 riffs played at Clash tempo would sound like.
Though the proto-garage-punk revival "Royal Explosion (Part II)" rocks confidently enough the album's second half is relatively slack. Along with "Sweet Jane" clone "Lone Summer Dream" it's filled-out with mid-tempo Brit-pop lite ("Midnight Children", "Wheels of Boredom", and "Borderline") and a sleepy ballad ("Song for the Others"). Fortunately the album ends on a high note with "Age of No Reply"*****. The snake-y verse riff is a welcome dose of psychedelia I'm happy to indulge in, ready to be swept up in the driving MC5-like choruses, and to float away on the Pet Sounds a capella fade-out.
(Ignoring the lackluster U.S. CD release bonus tracks)
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