While South Jersey's
Eleven Eleven are a modern rock band in the darkest sense of the word, the band takes a cue from
the Cure by peppering its somber tact with warmth on
Head, a dynamic album that is consistently likable, despite being 10- to 15-years past its expiration date. "Forever" starts the set with a vibrant, single-worthy charge, despite frontman Jeff Giuliani's pensive lyrical vision. That reflective feel touches both "A Different Way to Die" -- a mope rocker of the dreamy variety -- and the lilting, sleepy shoegazer pop of "Every Ill in the World." Sure Robert Smith and
Johnny Marr are two of Giuliani's obvious influences, but when he and guitarist Eric Mallon turn "The Queen of Magazines" into a
Catherine Wheel-like stomp, the results shift from damn good to freaking stellar. With
the Faint,
the Rapture and
Hot Hot Heat mining their heroes to major deals and airplay,
Eleven Elevenare certainly just as deserving. ~ John D. Luerssen