Desert City Soundtrack - Perfect Addiction

Except for maybe Ben Folds Five, there aren't too many rock bands in recent history that rocked the piano (and even Ben Folds isn't quite rocking like he used to). While the "rocking" element to Desert City Soundtrack's Perfect Addiction may be debatable at times, it's refreshing to hear a group of guys who let the piano take a dominant role in their music. "Last Nights Floor" opens the album on a somber note, but there's a turn toward aggression on "Lets Throw Knives" and "Playing the Martyr." The piano gives Desert City Soundtrack a sense of drama and delicacy but fuzzy guitars and angry drums keep this from descending into Tori Amos territory. Still, when Desert City Soundtrack gets introspective, they revel in it. The loveliness of "Batteries" is undeniable but sounds too much like it's hoping to be featured during a poignant moment on The O.C.. Perfect Addiction's strong start is tempered too quickly by the band's quieter songs. The darkness of the lyrics is joyfully at odds with the elegance of the music. "Mothball Fleet (Counterattack)" starts out "There are bodies scattered in the yard while wolves are screaming at the door." Lead singer Matt Carrillo's sweet voice only adds to the disjointed nature of songs like this and makes them more interesting that they are during the first impression. When the piano fades into the background, Perfect Addiction tends to drag. The band has something special and they need to utilize it more. But it's hard to find too much fault with Desert City Soundtrack. The band is strong; the songs are good. Even if Perfect Addiction doesn't quite live up to its title, it's still something to hear again and again. [www.desertcitysoundtrack.com]