Lazy Magnet ‎– Is Music Even Good? CD

Lazy Magnet ‎– Is Music Even Good? CD

"Lazy Magnet are, if nothing else, not interested in a monolithic approach -- nor are they interested in a monolithic answer to their album title's question. Is Music Even Good? relies, mostly but not entirely, on a series of short tracks that are themselves further fragmented, all in the service of whatever the band or collective force that constitutes the group deems fit. It's not exactly hyperspeed cut-up collage but Mike Patton and Frank Zappa would appreciate a fair amount of what's going on. A song like "Conquest America," with its lullaby singalong of lyrics that could be from a Mars Volta record regarding the historical oppression of societal structures, isn't quite Elephant 6 going full-on prog, but it's closer to that than most, and with that as a start the rest of the album barely stops for breath. On the one hand things hit and run with such brief impact that about all one can do is appreciate what's going on briefly. Sometimes nothing sticks, but there are moments like a lengthy mood instrumental that takes the time to settle into a sound, while the vocal shifts on "Masters of Science Fiction" is a nerdish celebration/vivisection of a subculture come to life. Perhaps after it all the almost closer "Message from France" is the only possible culmination -- specifically designed as a response song to a couple of classic Wipers songs like "Youth of America," it's catchy, joyous, and a good way around straightup anthemicism -- which is perhaps the point after all the fracturing earlier." - Ned Raggett / All Music