BANDS:

Punk & Ska
80's New Wave/
Post-Punk/
College Bands
90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

The Stella Link: Mystic Jaguar... Attack!!!
[Ascetic]

Mystic Jaguar Attack!!! is an album that I dont particularly dislike, but I dont particularly like it either. What I dislike is the long jammed out rock tunes that never seem to catch their groove, for example the opening track, Apogee. While not a terrible song, it definitely made it hard for me to get pumped about what was coming next; its long winded, repetitious and boring. I have heard and made enough albums to realize that you dont win friends with extended rock jams opening up your album. Now if the album would have opened with Winner Takes All, I think my overall feeling about the music would have been different. Its snobbish of me to say that I can identify what works or doesnt work as far as presenting songs on an album, but lets face it: presentation does matter, so youve got to give the goods from the get go.

If I were in The Stella Link and had read that first paragraph, Id be saying, This dudes a dick, whats he know anyway? I would probably deserve that, because despite not being blown away with this album, there are some decent tracks like, The Possibility of Bears, which sounds very Soundgarden via Superunknown. Also, Behold! The Hornless Unicorn is a rocking track, full of guitar riffs, aggressive reverbed vocals buried in the mix just right. The Stella Link proves itself to be a tight, talented band, and although Im not overwhelmed by the music, it is original; and I have a hard time labeling them as sounding like this or that. Just by saying that earns this Missouri band respect points.

This is an album you are going to have to find out for yourself if you like it. When it rocks, it definitely gets close to making up for the parts that drag. The musicianship is great, and I really enjoyed drummer Chris Metcalfs playing. I wasnt so much a fan of Justin Warrings vocals, but like I said before, the combination of all the elements that make up The Stella Link creates a unique sound. When its good, its really good, and when its not, it can become dull.

The Stella Link Official Website

Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase this album.

More Album Reviews

About LOTD        Contact/Staff        Advertise        Home

All content  LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved.