T.V. Sky

In a conscious shift of aesthetics, the very European turned their eyes on America with the band's fourth album, producing its most 'rock' record to date, a consistently strong smash. Opening with it all seems (powerful) business as usual - odd sonic loops, rhythm patterns suddenly exploding into mass drum/riff combinations. But the difference here lies with the lyrics - discounting earlier covers, for the first time sings in English here and throughout, a conscious audience targeting which he addressed in contemporaneous interviews. turns out to be the big shift, revamping what sounds like an old riff into as classic an American rock song as any - blues lyrical structure, loving the road and the motor - yet with ' unique sonic signature present, revamping and restitching the past into a cleaner, newer form that avoids sounding just like another bar band. Underground hit single marries a powerful pulse and razor-sharp feedback stabs with a perversely catchy lyric; other tracks like and the wickedly -quoting pile on the sound and space in equally gripping measure. an intentional tribute done after numerous / comparisons in the past, even has a mid-song -style organ break, but ends the album on a disturbing note, slow riff trudge samples fading out under 's dark, sly take on America. In sum, a wonderful album that never got its proper due. ~ Ned Raggett