SIX FINGER SATELLITE - HALF CONTROL (LOAD 125)

THERE IS NO LOAD 124 AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. LOAD 125 SEES SIX FINGER SATELLITE, WHO HAVE PROBABLY DECLINED AS A FORCE JUST AS QUICKLY AS LOAD HAVE GROWN, RETURN TO THE FOLD. THAT SAID THE LAST TIME THEY WERE 'IN THE FOLD' WAS TO THROW OUT A STOP-GAP RELEASE BETWEEN BIG INDIE LABEL ALBUM DROPS AND THIS IS MORE OF THE SAME!

HALF CONTROL IS ACTUALLY A RECORD MADE IN 2001 AND SHELVED AND THEN RE-RELEASED TO ACCOMPANY THE BAND RETURNING FOR A GO AROUND WITH DAN ST. JACQUES ON BASS. I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE IS HERE BUT SIX FINGER SATELLITE'S FLIRTATION WITH LOAD AND THE PROVIDENCE GUYS WITHOUT EVER FULLY COMMITTING IS A STRANGE ONE. I DON'T SEE HOW ANY OTHER LABEL COULD HAVE DONE MORE FOR THEM REALLY.

TO BE HONEST, WHILST THIS ISN'T BAD, I CAN SEE WHY THIS WAS SHELVED. IT'S COMPETENT AND SONGLY BUT ALMOST COMPLETELY HOOK-FREE AND FORGETTABLE. THEIR BEST SONGS HAVE THESE INDELIBLE HOOKS THAT GET THEIR CLAWS INTO YOU. THIS ONE IS OVER-SERIOUS AND ONE-PACED. I HOPE THE PROPER ALBUM THEY RELEASED THAT YEAR WAS BETTER THAN THIS.