Saturday, April 4, 1998
Watchmen excel best with subtle approach
By MIKE ROSS -- Express Writer
SILENT RADAR
The Watchmen
(EMI)
The Watchmen have always plowed straight down
the middle of the alternative rock road. Nothing
wrong with that, really.
But underneath the high-energy histrionics and
generic walls of jangly guitars, there lurks both soul
and subtlety - traits made even more apparent on
the Winnipeg band's fourth album.
The band played it loose and free in the studio and
it shows.
You'll still find songs that blend seamlessly into the
modern rock wasteland but, generally speaking, the
mellower the band gets, the better. The best comes
last - Brighter Hell, with a spare, two chord
arrangement and beautiful Rhodes piano, is like an
anti-apocalypse song. The message is worthy - i.e.,
that the world's not about to end and you're vain to
think it will in your lifetime. But it also has a chilling
cautionary note, "so far, so free," as Daniel Greaves
sings. It's the clear highlight of the album. As for the
rockers, only one does it for me: Say Something,
thanks mostly to the adventurous drum beat driving
it along.
Much as I like the Watchmen in concert, on
record, they tend to play it too safe. Silent Radar is
definitely a step in the right direction.