An Automotive's debut miraculously combines what seem to be entirely disparate influences: the sharp, processed, sunlit funk rock of
Jane's Addiction; the quirky, gurgling electro-folk of
the Beta Band; and the broad, experimental canvas of
Radiohead. From the first song, the mellow but haunting "All Flint and Steel, but No Spark," the vocals sound like
Perry Farrell and the music chimes and grooves like a psychedelic
Beta Band cut. "Mannequins Are Beautiful" is angular and unexpected without being derived from
Gang of Four,
Wire, or
Public Image Ltd.. Tracks like "Bagheads" and "I've Given up Giving up Drinking" are so upbeat and laid-back, you could easily imagine
An Automotive incorporating even more musical genres into their work in the future: perhaps reggae or tropicalia. The only drawback to
An Automotive's first album is that the songs never quite explode with as much energy as would be possible -- the space rock of "Communal Lobe" comes the closest. It seems that metal and punk are two influences that were left off of this album, but they wouldn't hurt. Who knows where the band could go; with one of the freshest-sounding albums of 2002, the possibilities are limitless.