The first couple of times I listened to this, my basic reaction was, yep, this is Smogtown. Nothing new. Nothing unexpected. It rocks hard enough to knock my dick in the dirt, but I expected that. Then something happened the third time I listened to this. I started to notice Chip’s chaotic bass. Tim’s drum fills started to burrow into my ears. Little things just beneath the fuzz came to me more clearly. Yes, I thought, this is Smogtown. Everything new. Everything unexpected. As far as I know, they’re still broken up, though rumors of new Smogtown shows are surfacing. Supposedly, they played a big show down in southern Orange County in March. Who knows if they’ll keep it together. Who knows if this is one last, great slab of music from Smogtown or if there’s more to come. Either way, it’s another fine, fine CD.
–sean (TKO)