Olympic Death Squad was one of many
Mark Robinson projects following the breakup of Unrest and was largely eclipsed by
Air Miami (which reunited Robinson with Unrest's Bridget Cross) and
Flin Flon. The composition of
Olympic Death Squad's
Blue is pretty much as one would expect from Robinson, and this is a very good thing -- while the album opener "This Is Riot Gear" is in the exact angular rock style of
Flin Flon's debut, much of the album is laid-back and jangling, both recalling late-period Unrest and falling in line with
Air Miami (minus the polished production and use of electronics.)
Blue's sound is rawer and more low-fi than any of Robinson's projects (excepting early Unrest), and not as focused as
Air Miami's slick pop or
Flin Flon's scratchy rock, but Robinson's skill as a songwriter and his usually on-target musical aesthetics make it just as worthwhile as his other work. ~ Nitsuh Abebe