On the compellingly titled
Sleeping Right and the Best in Homeopathic Magic,
Please Step out of the Vehicle wallow in fuzzy, complex indie rock and obtusely simple, vaguely ironic songs (in the tradition of early
Pavement and
the Flaming Lips). Often there are some sunshiny bits poking though the abstractions, and this is when the album is at its best. For example, oddball cleverness and melody come together perfectly in the pounding indie groove of "Mountains," as well as in the beautiful opening cacophony of "I Could Move," and these are two of the best tracks here. Sometimes, however,
Please Step out of the Vehicle seem too arch and hip for their own good, as in the non sequitur "Jellyfish as Fluxus Directory," which comes off like the outro to an '80s war video game. Nevertheless, the high points here bode well for future releases from this Portland, OR, group. ~ Erik Hage