Confusingly,
Illinois hail not from the Midwest but Pennsylvania, and although you can just make out traces of
the Smashing Pumpkins in their music, this geographically confused group looks mostly across the Atlantic for inspiration. Take "Bad Day," which
Illinois take straight out of the hands of
the Soup Dragons, whose 1990 Brit hit "I'm Free" was, of course, written by
the Rolling Stones. "Bad" brilliantly lifts "Free"'s hook, as well as
the Dragons' swirly atmosphere and exotic Eastern tinge, but weds them to a phenomenal bass and drum backing, and tosses a long meandering pity-me monologue into the background. This kind of wonderfully dreamy atmosphere imbues much of
What the Hell Do I Know?, particularly on the laid-back, pop-flecked "Alone Again" and the gloriously rousing "Headphones." "Screendoor" adds a '70s rock sound to the mix, "One on One" a splendid
Phil Spector-ish aura. The swirling atmosphere gives way to gravitas and regal majesty on "What Can I Do for You," an inspired power ballad whose elegant piano passages and synth-strings all scream British Christmas number one. Unfortunately,
Illinois are American, so that's unlikely. The group does, however, pay tribute to its own roots with the stomping, banjo-driven, square-dancing-goes-clubbing "Nosebleed." Sheer brilliance that. Add lyrics that range from musing to angsty to melancholic, and this is one impressive set, turning the clock back to a dreamier, more introspective time via a panoply of styles. ~ Jo-Ann Greene