Although this group contains a certain international component, it's the American pop/rock radio waves that the band tries to lay claim to, with mixed results. The introductory "Disco Crush" has all the markings of a possible single, but the lack of energy tends to diminish the effort. In fact, it comes across as a possible
Cult B-side. Moving between a melodic style resembling
Collective Soul on "Chicago," the band doesn't sense a sense of urgency, resulting in a satisfactory song but needing improvement. The song's bridge is impressive, though. While the lead singer is capable of a variety of styles in the vein of
David Bowie and his latter-day albums, the overall sound lacks something. "Medical Waste" is melancholic but at the same time slightly over the top in its chorus, resembling bands like
Stabbing Westward. The heart of the album tends to be slightly aimless, as "Wildebeest" is a blending of electronica and ambient music which doesn't move the listener. The second half is a bit more promising, but "Skyscraper Soul" doesn't deliver the goods. Fortunately, the band sounds quite alive for "The Exit Song," maintaining the intensity from start to finish in primal rock style like
the Strokes. Rounded out with "Ghosts," which is one of the better tracks here, the band has enough ability to deliver a bit more than what they've produced here. ~ Jason MacNeil