Split the Difference

by

Gomez

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I'm not certain why Gomez conjure calumny in their native U.K., where they are often dismissed as second-division dad rockers. Yes, these five scousers - Ian Ball (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Tom Gray (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ben Ottewell (vocals, guitar), Paul Blackburn (bass, guitar) and Olly Peacock (drums) - freely pillage their fathers' record collections for whatever turns them on, but like Beck, they take it all in and turn out something else - something that kicks with tension and fury. Whereas their last album, 2002's "In Our Gun," was willfully experimental and cockeyed, their latest, "Split the Difference," is decidedly more straightforward. "This time we were interested in coming up with something more visceral," says Gray, and he's spot on. Holing themselves up in a remote locale on the Sussex coast, the band had nothing else to do but focus on forging clattering rock noise irradiated with West Coast sunshine. With their thrashy guitars and gallumphing drums, songs like "Do One," "These 3 Sins," and "Silence" - the hot-rocking trilogy that begins the album, show a band brimming with bile and channeling it into spit-tunes that don't forego melody. Most of the rest of the record is brutally crunchy but also honeyed, like an overstuffed mouthful of trail mix. Even the burnished country waltz of "Sweet Virginia" is not without splinters. Spotlighting Ottewell's affecting burr of a voice, closer "There It Was" breaks down the blitzkrieg, sending "Split the Difference" off into a haunting mist. This is a starkers and often quite brilliant record.

I am a big Gomez fan. Their first three studio albums have revived my respect for modern rock and roll. That said, I think "Split the Difference" is not in the same category for quality and inspiration. If you are looking for your first foray into Gomez, try "Bring It On", "Liquid Skin", or "In My Gun". They are much better in my opinion.

There are some good tracks on the new album but they are mixed into a bunch that seem to be the band searching for a new sound or trying to sound more commercially acceptable.

Again, Gomez is one of the best new bands I have heard in many years; just don't start here if you're new to them.