The Brian Jonestown Massacre

With a name like this, it's pretty clear these guys have '60s on the brain, but as revivalist-type bands go, they're definitely above average. They could use more editing, though; this is their sixth album in about two years, and while no one complains about short value with a running time of 55 minutes, about half of this is run-of-the-mill pseudo-'60s garage/psych with too many indulgent guitar breaks. They get a lot more interesting when they slow things down to a wasted quasi-junkie folk-rock mode, similar in spirit to Nikki Sudden or early-'70s Stones. The spooky "The Devil," which sounds like a Satanic cousin to a Stones track like "Heart of Stone," is a standout in this regard; "Malela" (a close facsimile of the Chocolate Watch Band) and "Salaam" show them to be one of the few '90s bands capable of intelligent use of sitars in a rock context; and "(You Better Love Me) Before I Am Gone," for a change of pace, is a goofy (and not very good) homage to Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra's duet style. Inspired song title: "Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide