The Punks offer a punk ethic if not a punk sound on
Thank You for the Alternative Rock, released on Olympia, WA's 5 Rue Christine Records. This disc by the self-confessed psychedelic/experimental jam band finds the group still discovering its musical legs. The first of 12 tracks is the jolting experimental hodgepodge of "Theme for John Chavez." Listeners are then offered the jarring, violin-paced "Jean Travolta," reminding listeners of the band's avant-garde roots. Tracks three, five, six, nine, and 12 are nameless for unexplained reasons. "Drop It Like It's Hot" is a smorgasbord of minimalist drones. "Comida" plays like a live jam session of whistles and playful rants, adding up to an interesting albeit confusing song. The untitled eight-and-a-half-minute album-closer is more of the same: an unpredictable and dizzying combination of quirky instruments and surprising changes. The revolving set of members adds to the album's overall lackluster quality, resulting in no single, clear musical vision. ~ Stephen Cramer