It must be Three-and-a-Half Stars Day or something, because I just can't seem to help myself. This album (like the Streets') is simply too fantastic. These darn Secret Machines just show way too much promise and finesse on this awkwardly titled, debut full-length of theirs.
Borrowing the driving urgency of U2, the thundering rhythm section of Led Zeppelin and the spacey orchestration of the Flaming Lips, this Dallas, TX trio have somehow created an indie rock sound all their own. Their drawn-out, wandering anthems derive most of their power from a deliberate and measured pace. None of the songs, aside from the delicate ballad, "The Leaves are Gone", stray far from the pulsating bass and percussion formula. The Machines have grown enough in their four-year existence to understand that "less" is really quite often "more".
This is the kind of music that makes you want to put the pedal to the floor, dance the night away, down the expired milk and so forth. The kind of music that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. If you're still not convinced, go ahead and download "First Wave Intact", "Nowhere Again" or "Light's On" to see what I mean. Better yet, just go out and buy this thing. It's only $10.99 right now at Best Buy. Go on, get!!
3.5/4
