Dr. Squish's self-titled debut album puts singer Valentina Cuden's ethereal, slightly sinister vocals against a heavy, neo-grunge backdrop. Though their ambition to try something different with their sound is admirable, it's not an entirely successful combination, mostly because the group's songwriting skills aren't developed enough to fuse such disparate elements into a cohesive sound. Songs like "Little King" and "Devoid" lack the impact of true hard rock, despite their loud guitars, which in turn compete with Cuden's powerful-yet-pretty voice for the listener's attention. However, the instrumental "Surf 'N' Squish" shows off the band's chops, and the driven "Man on the Radio" and jazzy, skronky "Virtual" suggest that
Dr. Squish are on their way to finding an accessible balance for the extreme sides of their sound. ~ Heather Phares