Disposable Sounds for the Fickle Mind

Album Review

God knows what Man on Earth were thinking when they decided to name an all-important debut album Disposable Sounds for the Fickle Mind, but what at first seems like a backfiring attempt at irony quickly resolves into a show of great confidence instead. Surprisingly mature and far-reaching, the album is really too eclectic to simplify with easy comparisons, but what the hell: it mostly combines a melodic, post-Britpop sensibility with sharper-edged American guitar muscle, then tops it off with thoughtful (if anything, too thoughtful) lyrics. After starting with a couple of solid, simultaneously supple and purposefully determined offerings in "The Great Discontent" and "Grow," the band's formula breaks down just a tad with the over-indulgent ambitions of "It's all Been a Dream" — solid backing orchestration and all. But the overall balance is instantly redressed thereafter with a pair of album highlights — as different as they are successful. First up is the exceedingly mellow "Come in Closer," with its dreamy, Pink Floyd-like disposition; and, secondly, the darkly muscular, ready-made single "Lazy," with its alternating punchy power chords and delicate pickings. Results continue to vary thereafter, but even though Man on Earth's never-wavering, risk-taking creativity isn't always quite done justice by their still burgeoning songwriting chops, that's not to say that additional creations such as the heart wrenching "It's Alright, We'll Be Fine," the heavily Kid A-reliant "Anywhere but Here," and the flamenco style guitar work of "Taking Closure" don't prove victorious in the end; all of which makes this a very impressive and promising first album.