Now working with such younger musicians as John McEntire (
Tortoise),
Jim O'Rourke, and
David Grubbs,
Mayo Thompson comfortably steers
the Red Krayola into the mishmash of '90s post-punkdom here. For
Thompson, it's not so much a return to the scene (he had always kept recording, after all) as a continuation of his themes of musical eclecticism. It's heavy on the angular guitar lines and unusual lyrical construction/deconstruction, with occasional electronic flutters. It's not as highly recommended as his two subsequent Drag City releaes (Amor and Language and Hazel), which state the same thematic concerns with a tad more melodicism and warmth. ~ Richie Unterberger