Album review: $ell.Out by Gregorz

Val Ium. Either you love to fuck her or hate to fucking love her. Pist.On - the Val Ium-led band - are back with their second release titled $ell.Out. The Brooklyn-based group are back and with a bang, no doubt. Do not be fooled by the album's title, it is definitely no sell out. Three years on from their first album Number One, Pist.On remain dedicated to making loud noises and causing a hell of a ruckus with their brand of music. Actually, I really ain't into this stuff, but it really isn't pain to my ears either.

If there's anything to it, $ell.Out has a more mature and euphonius sound to the music. Without able to return working with their former producer Josh Silver, the band have found a capable replacement in the form of Daniel Rey (Misfits). With Rey on board, the some-what gothic nature of their songs have been phased out and reinstated with a invigorated augmented resounding range - and a more assured accomplishment.

The songs on $ell.Out have the tendancy to creep slowly and steadily into your cranium, making a permanent abode there. Songs like the opener "Suddenly Sober," "31 Degrees" and "Rest" are just some of the 11 songs you'll be hearing on the album. To me, $ell.Out is probably a middle finger to the assholes at Atlantic Records, who dropped the band from their label after their drummer Jeff McManus was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer. Hey, like I fucking said, this album ain't really my cup of tea, but if you haven't heard their first album, then get this one - and step into Val Ium's World.

- Gregorz -