Five stars. See that? It's simple. Well done, 'slainbyelf' (but it's a shame about your name). This is a band that no longer exists. They were criminally ignored, and will be mourned by a very small group of people. This album is excellent, but be warned, people expecting another 'Mclusky Do Dallas' or 'My Pain And Sadness Is More Sad And Painful Than Yours' will be a tad disappointed as this is a decidedly more dark affair. Don't be put off by that, all the usuals are still present here- a savage, all-too-rare, intelligent sense of irony and humour, chaotic walls of noise and, of course, startling originality. From the opening guitars and 'doo-doo-doos' of Without MSG I Am Nothing through to the feedback drenched ending of Support Systems, this is an album most bands would sell their souls to be able to create. But for the most part, these songs lack the catchy pop hooks you might expect. As if to reassure all doubters that this general lack of catchiness was a concious decision, this album includes what is easily the catchiest, poppiest song Mclusky have ever recorded. It is called 'She Will Only Bring You Happiness' and it is brilliant. So is everything else on this album. If you buy this album and you are not impressed, you can blame me, and I will happily send you a written apology. But it will be an empty, meaningless apology, riddled with dirty limericks and sly comments about how rubbish your taste in music is.
