Review of the New !!! Album: Myth Takes

Some basic info for the unacquainted: !!! are a dance-rock combo from Sacramento, Calif. The band's odd name is pronounced by the repetition of any single-syllable sound three times (such as the group's preferred pronunciation, chk chk chk). Many music elitists consider them to be not only a member of the recent new wave revival, but also the embodiment of everything right with the movement.

It's a well-deserved title, as proven by the band's 2004 release Louden Up Now. The album, !!!'s second effort, mixed together spacey, synthesized noise, funky bass riffs, dance club drum beats and blunt political statements (such as the crudely hilarious "You can tell the president to suck my fucking dick/ Does that sound intelligent?/ Like I give a fucking frick"). The result was an ingenious bricolage of varying styles that, in all actuality, didn't make much of an impact on the music industry.

!!! recently released their third full-length, Myth Takes. And although some may see these 10 songs as more of the same, most fans won't mind one bit. The band has their own clearly defined style, and they've got that style down to a science.

Myth Takes has all of the elements that made Louden Up Now so enjoyable. Lead singer Nic Offer's voice is as diverse as ever, ranging from deep, sinister whispers on songs like "Myth Takes," R&B-worthy croons on "A New Name" and an angry smartass tone on "All of My Heroes are Weirdos"

"Must Be the Moon," the album's standout song, has an infectious beat and incorporates Offer's newfound appreciation of narrative songwriting. The song is sleazy, both lyrically and instrumentally, with a chorus that hits the listener like a sock full of D-cell batteries. The smooth bass runs, robotic synth and jerky, underlying guitars are drawn together nicely, reminding the listener that, while !!! may be comprised of a couple of dirt bags, those dirt bags have a lot of talent.

The only real departures come at the end of the album. "Break In Case of Anything," a largely instrumental track with a few vocal samples, is slightly more upbeat than the normal !!! fare. Think of it as a lovechild between the band and the electro-pop of the Go! Team.

"Infinifold," the polar opposite of "Break In Case of anything," is a somber song with instrumentals consisting mostly of piano and electronic white noise. It's an interesting effort by the band, but overall not a very strong composition.

Myth Takes is a great follow up album and will likely gain !!! a few more fans. Political and social commentary has been turned way down in comparison to Louden Up Now, but the general song craft is just as strong, if not a little tighter. If the alternative-dance genre continues to expand at its current rate, !!! are sure to retain their position at the top of the heap.

4.5 of 5