3.6 - These Massachusetts boys were playing near home so I decided to check them out knowing next to nothing about their catalog, except that they were connected to the 90s grunge zeitgeist that I grew up on. But they were unexpectedly cerebral, utilizing non-standard guitar tunings, math-rocky time signatures and strange chord progressions. Towards the end of their set, I had a mild panic attack and had to exit the venue in a hurry because I just couldn't make sense of the music and it was putting me on edge. I'd say this album displays many similar characteristics as I experienced that evening. For me this album is hit-or-miss. On one hand, I love heartfelt ballads like "Soul and Fire", "Homemade" and "Think (Let Tomorrow Bee). But these sweet moments are spiked with cacophony, like on "Fantastic Disaster" and "Elixir Is Zog." I've read that this is a breakup album, and I think the decision to incorporate equal doses of attraction and repulsion, feels true.