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June 9 - 16, 2000

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*** Eleven

AVANTGARDEDOG

(A&M)

You may recognize keyboardist/vocalist Natashia Schneider and guitarist Alain Johannes as being from former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell's new band. But you wouldn't recognize them from this music. It's deeper and more creative that anything on Cornell's collection of croons, packed with sugar and venom. Johannes pushes his playing to the brink of scrawl without ever compromising the integrity of these songs, blending punk chording with Robert Fripp-like shimmering, explosive clusters of tones with chiming harmonized leads and filthy distortion -- and laying down some of the best acoustic-guitar slam 'n' burn since Pete Townshend. (Check the Indian-influenced instrumental vignette "Untitled #1" for this last.) And Schneider's industrial-to-orchestral range of keyboard colors provides the vivid glue for Eleven's smart blend of sampled percussion and big-rock flourishes. Schneider and Johannes are both strong lead singers who switch from tune to tune. But it's Schneider who glides boldly and flexibly through pretty pop hooks like "All Falls Away" and the dark territory of "Lucky One." Actually, it's all a bit dark, but always beautiful and imaginative. How often can you say that about an album that really rocks these days?

-- Ted Drozdowski
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