NOT A FOOD

Cheer-Accident's fifth release, and a return to their "typical" sound after the rather poppy The Why Album. Not a Food marks a return to the dissonant chords, guitar interplay and odd time sigs found in previous albums such as Dumb Ask and Babies Shouldn't Smoke. They all share their differences though, and this one seems to have the most inane sections some consider to be filler. This could be a good thing for the RIO/Avant-Prog newbie who enjoys non sequitur humor, as these sections could help serve as good breaks from the dense composition found in most of the rest of the album (in my experience). Those fully accustomed to the complex may find these parts a bit unnecessary.

Things start off great with 'Even Has a Half-Life', a noisy, jazzy, distortion laden track that has a middle section made up of noise and a funny spoken part. 'Grow' is a bit more conventional and sounds like something that could have been on Dumb Ask. 'Modestly Clothed, Did She Trouble you?' is some more good mathy noise rock. 'Nutrition' occasionally borders on metal, using drop D tuning and Thymme Jones screaming the short and brief verse. A change of pace comes with '30 Seconds Of Weightlessness', it's actually 11 minutes and is a post-rock kind of track. 'Ice Cream And Lies' brings the album back up to speed, and like 'Nutrition' is kind of grungy in parts, possibly the highlight of the album. 'King Cheezamin' is a zany number and could be considered a filler track, nothing great but it is kind of funny. 'Grow II' is a surprisingly conventional instrumental, nothing really interesting happens the entire time and just cuts out. The final track, 'Evan Had a Shelf Life' takes the first 2 or so minutes of the first track and glitches it to the max as if the CD was taken to by a knife. Hmm, seems to kind of drop off at the end. Anyway, still enjoyable if you're in the mood for some math-rock mixed with some good drivel (there is such a thing!) 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Favourite Tracks: 'Ice Cream and Lies', 'Even Has a Half-Life', 'Nutrition'.