** Econoline Crush

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

(Restless/EMI)

A savvy blend of post-grunge guitars and a dose of beats and sonic squiggles cribbed from electronica aren't enough to bootstrap this Vancouver outfit from the current alternative-rock mire. One problem is singer/lyricist Trevor Hurst's competent but characterless voice, which fades into the mix. That mix also drowns guitar ticks like the chiming melodies and warbled vibrato licks of "Sparkle and Shine" in a dirty stream of chords and simple, propulsive bass.

Hard listening reveals that six-stringers Robbie Morfitt and Ziggy often stretch in interesting directions, lacing their lines with extreme doses of chorus and fuzz, picking strings over their guitars' headstocks to make them ring. But who wants to work that hard? This is supposed to be a pop album. Econoline Crush do believe in melodies, however, and their best makes "All That You Are (X3)" a pop gem. The arrangement breathes, and Hurst stops stretching vowels to oblivion in favor of a near-chant that make this anti-love song count.

-- Ted Drozdowski