Mind Chaos

Hockey

Capitol

Jul 17, 2009 Web Exclusive By Michele Yamamoto

Sometimes you've got to loosen your tie and try to remember that not everything is such a rigid business. Hockey's debut album, Mind Chaos, is here to help you out. The tracks freely move through a shortlist of genres: "Too Fake" boasts a dance punk influence, "Song Away" references a New Wave pop sound à la The Cars, and "Four Holy Photos" pops out with its country sauntering and close harmony.

Mind Chaos comes across as fun, not stilted or stiff. What the album lacks in continuity and consistency, it makes up for by its ability to keep things entertaining. "Song Away" is one of the more feel-good tracks I've heard in a minute. "I want to write a truthful song over an '80s groove/I'd like to let you know I'll always be straight with you," singer Benjamin Grubin pronounces.

And as he reminds us in between less understandable mutterings in "Work," "It's too much work, work, work, yeah/Oh, it's so much work for me." He knows when it's time to punch out, and I'm willing to believe anyone can benefit a little bit from that. (www.hockey.co.uk)

Author rating: 6/10

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Average reader rating: 9/10