Stephen's CD: Add N To X's "Avant Hard"

Alright, so the title is a pun. And the cover isn't exactly eye-catching. But, hear me sigh with relief. For the songs, the songs...these songs are songs!

We are treated to the same analog keyboard fest that the first Add N To X album features, but this time around the songs typically go somewhere. Or, lacking a real song progression, there might be a vocoded voice to keep the ear interested (not to mention some sparing, but nicely done theremin leads). The single was "Metal Fingers in My Body" (accompanied by a striking animated and, frankly, pornographic video) and the title fits the song, if such a thing is possible.

Most of the other songs (such as "Revenge of the Black Regent," "Steve's Going to Teach Himself Who's Boss," and "Skills") also hold their own, although there are a few moments when the band treads a bit too familiar of ground, setting up a song with a great keyboard part and then running out of ideas on it. For the most part, though, this is a great retro-futurism synthesizer noise album, although it has a few moments of drag.

Grade: B+

Shall I keep it? Yes, indeed I shall. It's very much not in a jewel case, too. Stephen_, StephenCD_