Gene thrashes all over the place on their second album
Drawn to the Deep End, as if they were anxious to shake off any comparison to
the Smiths. Opening with the textured, near-art-rock of "New Amusements" and moving into the revamped pop-soul stomp of "Fighting Fit," the record initially doesn't sound like the tragically doomed bed-sit pop of
Olympian, and it seems like
Drawn to the Deep End might be a great leap forward. Unfortunately,
Gene don't quite have the vision to carry through with their promise. Quite a few cuts kick with either a self-determined drive ("Speak to Me Someone") or a sense of tragic grace ("Where Are They Now?") or, at best, both, like on "We Could Be Kings." But the band quickly become victims of their own ambition and botched execution. The record becomes bogged down with turgid ballads or failed experiments that come off as weak art-rock. Still, the
Queen-styled chorus of "I Love You, What Are You?" is charming, and it's endearing to hear the band try so hard to move forward, but the lack of focus makes the album less affecting than the hero-worship of
Olympian. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine