Crystal Method

The Crystal Method produces music that has the kind of unabashed raw flavour only a Stateside act could have. Since its gold debut, Vegas, released in 1997, the duo of Scott Kirkland and Ken Jordan have worked to establish themselves as every bit a live band, challenging the anonymity that techno rave acts treat as part of the job, whilst championing the growing L.A. rave scene. On their newest release, Tweekend, notable names such as Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) are brought in to spice up the mix. Clocking in at a little over an hour, the songs want to carry a punch but largely fail to deliver. The comparisons to the Chemical Brothers, or even the Prodigy, may not be entirely unfounded, though it may be laziness to make allusions, thereby ignoring what makes this group unique. But that is precisely the trouble, there is very little that is powerful or musically commendable about the material to call attention to. In fact, the raw rock energy it bears is reminiscent of Tom Morello's old outfit and his presence is no coincidence here. The album is soaked in Rage-like tunes but the imitative gesture is not flattering for TCM. Moreover, pulling in Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann producer Jon Brion doesn't seem to have done much for the already paltry tracks, as the songs seem over-produced. It has a kind of muscularity that will satisfy few and will be forgotten quite easily soon after the last song ends.