*** 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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