Formed in 1998 from Portland, OR-based outfits like Pond and
Sprinkler, the lads in
Audio Learning Center are easily the square pegs of Vagrant Records. It's refreshing that they don't fit in with their emo-addled labelmates, as the
Chris Brady-fronted trio blends elements of grunge stalwarts like
Nirvana and
Screaming Trees with 1980s college rock favorites like
Big Dipper and
Volcano Suns on
Cope Park. Booze-doused road tales like "The Neverwills" seem to roar with reckless abandon, but drummer Paul Johnson and guitarist
Steven Birch work off of
Brady with tremendous precision on the title cut -- which flirts with modern prog. But
ALC is clearly at its best setting off urgent, raw rock & roll firecrackers like "Passenger" and "In the Red." Desperate, unstable, and lovelorn,
Brady's songs are always real, and -- with the exception of the aimless "California" -- really very good. ~ John D. Luerssen