Reviewed by Cliff Doust

I guess I must have just entered my fogey-hood: whilst our revered editor described The Throes' last album ("All The Flowers Growing In Your Mother's Eyes') as intelligent, vibrant rock, all I get from this offering is a migraine. My trouble is I like music with melodic content, arrangements which compliment the main theme, accessible lyrics and instrumental solos that are both articulate and integral to the rest of the track. I can't get a buzz from guitars that rasp like hornets in a coke can, interspersed with howls of feed back, all overlaid on overly repeated rhythm/bass figures and gimmicky sound effects. Yes, they probably do have the odd Rickenbacker 12 in the mix and occasionally sound somewhat REMish, but the chord progressions are too laboured to make the songs easy listening. There is some Christian content in the lyrics, but mostly concealed and I had to puzzle over them for longer than they merited. I have no argument with artists who prefer approaching things obliquely rather than head on, but I do feel this approach blends poorly with communication of faith. Christianity is not mysticism. First person to ask me receives the CD free of charge.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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