Woah, are we ever back in the '90's! Although relatively big (at least in Canada) during the grunge explosion, these Vancouver industrial rockers have long since broken up and moved into obscurity. If you were into the Canadian music scene during the '90s, you probably remember their singles "Home," "Sparkle and Shine," and "All That You Are." Infamous for dramatically changing band members every CD, I'd say they are terribly underrated. They're one of the few bands I liked when I was 9 years old that I can still enjoy today. That's right, 9. I wasn't listening to your crappy Spice Girls at 9. What do you take me for?! They broke up in 2002, but will always live on in the hearts of every jaded Canadian alternative rocker.
For someone who grew up listening to Econoline Crush playing emotionally charged rock music, it is interesting to see them so politically controversial, with songs railing against police brutality, the government, the rich, and organized religion. It's just too bad it's so poorly produced. I was amused to no end, though, by a very young sounding Trevor Hurst screaming "Kicking, scratching, and living for what? I'm part of the system, and the system...is...fucked!"
The version of "Cruel World" on this album is far better. "Syncophant" is another catchy song, that sort of sounds like something that would be on Devil You Know. Lastly, title track "Affliction" is mellow and emotional; the perfect way to end such a charged album. They may not have perfected their work - some songs drag on for far too long or are very repetitive ("Lost" and "Slug" were a nightmare to get through) but overall, this album hits you fast, hard, and makes you want to headbang like a psycho. And they somehow got even better.
If there's one thing this CD has, though, it's consistency. The songs are able to blend into each other without all sounding exactly the same. You can listen to the whole CD, beginning to end, without getting bored and skipping tracks. It's almost like a work of art, and I don't normally get emo enough to say that about things. Their harder rock songs, emotional tracks, and semi-techno experimentation all blend together without jarring you from the experience. From the distortion intro of opener "Surefire" to the depressing closing track "Razorblades and Bandaides," this is the definitive Econoline Crush album. It's a must-have for any Canadian alternative rock fan.
Okay, after a brief hiatus, Econoline Crush is back! Woo! You think that right up until you actually put the CD in your stereo. What is this? Bland pop-rock?! This isn't Econoline Crush! This is a sorry attempt at being put on the radio!
Opening track "Make It Right" is a brief reminder of Econoline Crush's Devil You Know heydey. The first few tracks after that are all right, until you start to realize they all sound the same. And not in that cool, Devil You Know way. This is nothing more than radio rock, with a few techno tricks spun in to convince us that yes, this is Econoline Crush. But it's not. Most of the tracks on this CD are mediocre at best, including the embarrassing acoustic single "May I Go." The last track, "You Don't Know What It's Like," is one last stab at their former glory, but it's already the end of the CD, and it's too late to fix your opinion. Despite a handful of good tracks, this CD is too bland to have much, if any, replay value. I really should've given it a 5, but Hurst continues to deliver vocally and lyrically, even though the arrangements fail miserably.