Masterminded by Jamie "Bran Man" Di Salvio,
Bran Van 3000 is a bizarre, stylish mix of club music, techno, hip-hop, lounge and kitsch-pop. Perhaps it's inevitable that such a high-concept project would be equally inspired and frustrating, and that's exactly the case with the group's debut,
Glee. At its best, the album is an infectious, unpredictable, and, well, gleeful amalgam of styles -- Di Salvio and his cohorts show no regard for convention, which can result in wild, intoxicating juxtapositions and beats. It can also result in a mess, which unfortunately happens on about half of the album. Of course, perfection isn't necessarily expected for a debut, and
Glee is very good for a debut, featuring such great cuts as "Drinking in LA," "Everywhere," "Supermodel," and "Afrodiziac," which features a cameo from Tha Gravediggaz, making the flaws and weaknesses forgivable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine