Though it is listened in my iTunes as a rock album, it is rather difficult to entirely define this band as a rock. Sometimes you can pass them off as an on/off version of Innerpartysystem, where they successfully combine elements of house with indie rock for an infinitely catchy concoction. Otherwise, you might get the version of the band where said beat-laden arrangements are missing the looping beats and synths that make them catchy. Hence the dilemma heard here, where the best parts of this sampler are cut apart by unfortunately less addicting parts.

Where the first track kicks things into high gear with up-tempo beats and soaring melodies, the second two tracks only really deliver the goods in spurts, making them less appealing as the sampler goes on. The trippy nature of the first track just doesn’t quite carry over to the slower tempos and timbres of the second and third tracks. The latter two tracks just don’t stick around in your head as long, which makes them a slightly difficult listen in the long run.

Since this sampler is a prelude to the band’s upcoming full-length, it certainly does enough to get you interested in hearing the rest of the band’s work. The question is what band we will be hearing on the full-length – the one skilled in crafting hypnotic rock-tinged arrangements or the one with less of a knack for keeping our ears in tune when things get a bit slower. Either way, we will certainly have to keep our eyes on these guys in the near future.[By: Jason Gardner]
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: October 20, 2009

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