Quasi - American Gong

Not having a history myself with this decade-plus old band I was expecting more of some electronic indie cutsie duo. I was pleasantly surprised when the album starts out with a pair of fuzzed-out rockers. Generally we're looking at a skilled art-house mess of punk riffs, walking bass and head-bopping drums. Songs are structured in such a way that allows for a few bars of guitar solo, but that's where Quasi employ the synthesizer they put on that credit card.

With that, they move down to the first of what could be a pair of Sloan demos. "Everything & Nothing At All" is a jarring contradiction from the opening tracks. It's another simple, plodding piano-based indie-rock version of "Dream On". It hurts because it follows the two choice cut rockers, and would have fit better after the next epic "Bye Bye Blackbird", which spends its own time rocking part of its 6:35 length, but is bookended by sweet Beck-ish rhymes about, you guessed it, a bird.

The 2nd half gets back to some righteous goodness. "Death Is Not The End" is a morbid piano-ballad, heavy on the bass. The lyrics are cliché, but in a classic way, not a cheap lazy way. "Rockabilly Party" is exactly what it sounds like. Coulda been an Uncle Tupelo encore.

A good record. I feel like Quasi shines when they record in the red levels, and that's mostly the case here. I may suggest in the end to either fill the vocal gaps with someone who can play leads, or really punk it out and lose the gaps altogether. (3.5 of 5 stars)