DreamWorks actually courted , which is bizarre -- no matter how photogenic the quintet is, their music is simply not meant for the mainstream. Fortunately, the band's sound isn't drastically cleaned up on their major-label debut, , but that doesn't mean that the record is the powerhouse it could have been. The production is somewhat muted, meaning that the band never tears into the songs like they do in concert, but that turns out to be a minor complaint, because has such an individual, idiosyncratic sound that even weak moments sound kinetic. Through most of , the group comes across as a hybrid of , and -- they have the twisted, unpredictable songstructures of crew, the hipster blues of and the revolutionary zeal of -- and while the songwriting is uneven, the record still shows more style, substance and originality than most post-alternative guitar combos. It may not find fulfilling their potential, but remains a strong debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine