Review by LarryG
2 stars out of 4
Eve 6 have an undeniable ability to make catchy guitar rock. But
on Horrorscope, their music doesn't have a distinguishing personality.
And while Max Collins isn't as nasty as many of the angry singers on
rock radio, his singing has an unpleasant edge.
Eve 6 seem doomed to one hit wonder status. Inside Out from their
self titled CD had a great Jon Siebels guitar line and an irresistable
momentum created by Collins' torrent of words. Nothing on Horrorscope
has the same appeal though the new CD does often have the buoyant
energy of Leech and Tongue Tied, the other singles from Eve 6's last
CD.
At its best, Horrorscope is dumb but catchy. Promise, like the
Cars' Magic, has attention grabbing chunky power chords on the chorus
as Collins makes modest promises: "not to try to f--- with your mind",
"not to mind if you go your way and I go mine" and "not to lie if I'm
looking you straight in the eye." Rescue, with its perky chorus and
cheesy, beeping keyboards, is also reminiscent of the Cars' mix of
guitar rock and glossy pop. But its lyrics are painfully stupid: "like
Jessica Rabbit, she collects bad habits." On The Roof Again has good
energy from jagged guitar lines but Collins' singing and the lyrics
about a young man hit hard by romantic disappointments have a nasty
edge. Why would Collins think it was a good idea to repeatedly sing,
"you're heinous highness broke her hyman"? Sunset Strip Bitch is as
hard and unappealing as the worst early Stone Temple Pilots. Collins
yells the title of the song about an ambitious Hollywood transvestite.
It's a cliche of contemporary rock that an otherwise tough band
includes an obligatory slow song or two in a blatant attempt for pop
success. Here's To The Night, with strings no less, is the kind of
empty rock ballad that should have ended with John Waite. Collins is
certainly not endearing as he looks for sympathy as he loves and
leaves: "don't let me let you go." Amphetamines is simple, fast punky
fun though Collins' attempt to seem like a good guy after dumping a
woman is pretty lame: "phone me once in a while, let me know you're
all right." What a guy! Nocturnal is also fast and fun with a good,
crisp beat. Enemy is silly tough guy stuff about meeting an enemy but
it and Jet Pack have very catchy choruses with Inside Out style
stuttering, fluid guitar riffs.
Horrorscope was produced by Don Gilmore, who also produced A
Place In The Sun by Lit, another generic, stupid band who make catchy
pop songs. Horrorscope is a good sounding record. It has guitar rock
heft, with Siebels' hard, yet loose playing. Horrorscope also has an
appealing poppy energy. What it doesn't have much of is
distinctiveness and the persona it creates from the singing and lyrics
is dopey and unappealing.
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