Pierced Arrows

Hailing from Oregon, yet inspired by the loose junkie rock of '70s New York ― and somewhat by the lax attitude their side of the continent has been responsible for, circa the '90s ― former Dead Moon duo Fred and Toody Cole are back with another power trio blending three-chord rock, pawn shop instruments and a general distaste for being on the beat. Borderline sloppy, rather rudimentary and not entirely unique or compelling for people who've been playing for the better part of 30 years, Descending Shadows sounds like what happens when Sonic Youth and Ten Years After fans never get beyond the basement, but are handed heaps of praise. Let it be said that their effort and zeal are admirable, but to say this is a life-altering experience would be about as honest as saying Kurt Cobain was vaguely interested in drugs.