On
Econoline Crush's third full-length,
The Devil You Know, the band has issued their best album yet. It could very well prove to be their big U.S. breakthrough (they're already stars in Canada), since the majority of the tracks would fit very nicely on late-'90s alternative radio. On past E.C. albums, the lyrical subject matter was often message-oriented, and this is no exception. Singer
Trevor Hurst's lyrics tackle such serious topics as AIDS, friends who betray, and doomed personal relationships. Producer Sylvia Massey (
Prince,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool, etc.) helped the band improve their textured rock, which makes the songs' melodic hooks even sharper. After hearing the leadoff track "Surefire," and you'll know the style that Econonline Crush specializes in -- buzzing guitars, frenetic drumming, vocals that alternate between sung and screamed, and subtle electronic experiments. And there are plenty of other compositions that meet the former's standards: the explosive dance-rocker "Sparkle and Shine," the melodic, almost
Prodigy-like "Home," and the overtly aggressive "Burnt." ~ Greg Prato