For this five-song EP, Tim Kinsella's Joan of Arc masquerades as Make Believe, veering from the brooding beauty of their primary role to balance a punk-derived chaos with a wicked King Crimson infatuation. That second element comes courtesy of guitarist Sam Zurick, who cooks up erratic, but inexplicably warm leads for the otherwise gloomy "We're All Going to Die." Still, freestyling and caterwauling through the wandering noodle-thon "Britt's Favorite" doesn't yield the same affability, and a psychotic jam dubbed "Witchcraft" doesn't fare much better. But Make Believe does rebound for "Temping as a Shaman," a compelling, funk-laced item with inventive pacing. While the quartet bows with the melodic, spirited "Abracadabra -- Thumbs!" -- easily the set's finest moment -- this band (no matter what you call 'em) continues to evolve and change like no other, checking any hint of fan or internal expectation at the door and just going for it. Make Believe doesn't always work, but even its failed experiments seem brave and exhilarating.
© John D. Luerssen /TiVo