Box of Birds
Though this new record is a collection of cover tunes, the best songs on here are the straight rockers and four-minute blasts of major-chord bliss. In fact, the best music from the Church always seems to stem from their pop instincts, rather than the prog-rock leanings they've gravitated toward since the excellentStarfishbrought them mainstream success. The band eases into the sing-song verses and anthemic chorus ofUltravox's "Hiroshima Mon Amour" with a quiet bit of melodic guitar noise that hooks the ear before the song even really begins in earnest. Later, the band rips through "Silver Machine" with enthusiasm, stomping fuzzbox guitar pedals and imbuing the driving rock tune with an appropriately sloppy sheen. The Church handle sunnyBeatles' covers,David Bowieglam anthems and wandering, discordantCrazy Horsejams with the poise that 20 years and 15 albums provide. Still, there's never any doubt that it's the Church playing these songs. Their particular blend of plaintive melody, neopsychedelia, and pop moxie make their sound unmistakable.--Matthew Cooke