FRANCES THE MUTE

Well. The first 7 reviews here are all 5-stars. And here is an 8th. Freakin' brilliant CD from the band which has rejuvenated progressive rock (without meaning to, apparently they don't care much for the label). I am surprised by all the reviews that say they have totally changed their sound on this CD. I think they sound the same as in Deloused, just pushed further and harder. The same Zepellin-Santana-Rush vibe is there, only they sound like a demonic Santana on more acid than Santana's entire band ate at Woodstock. The album is really loud, so much that I can only listen to it on 4 in the car (I listen to most CD's at 16 or 18), and I have a really loud exhaust note. My ears hurt. Why does everything have to be mastered so damn loud nowadays? The sound is much more rewarding on the studio monitors at home. Best album of 2005, and it's only March. Do you really think something better than this will come out this year, or even this decade? I doubt it. Rock on, dudes.