Razorblade Suitcase
Gavin Rossdale may try his best to sound like Kurt Cobain, and his British band may strum and bang Seattle-style, and Steve Albini may produce like he never left the alterna-grunge basement, but the songs here are pure pop for now people--now being Grunge-mania 1996. The lyrics always loop around in disjunctive fits and Albini ensures the band stops and starts in discomforting style but deep down Rossdale has his radio tuned to the FM-radio hits of yesteryear. "Swallowed" is the obvious single but "History," "Greedy Fly," and others have a sugary side that's pure ear candy underneath the harsh wailings.--Rob O'Connor