Within any thriving environment, time brings about evolution, and evolution surely necessitates change, right? Consequently, if you're still in search of ANOTHER trashy garage-rock ass kicker by The Makers, step back for a second and contemplate: Would any band that scorched the Earth back in '91 still be around, let alone doing the same style of music? It's doubtful, so junk any preconceived notions on how The Makers should sound in 2000 and get ready for another rebirth -- one full of sexy, glam inspired rockdom that continues to belittle as it bashes stereotypers with another marvelous black eye inducer. But this time, it'll hurt a lot longer.

Quite frankly, Rock Star God has its origins in some of the final chapters of the late, great Devil Dogs. Souped up, super-styled rock riffs are precariously balanced with slow, soulful...dare I say ballads? Four tracks into the CD a familiar sound emerges as "A Better Way Down" grinds words about needles 'n' weapons into an R&B fest of swanky vocals, belting out an occasional screech while guitar chords are pounded out one after another. Dig it, 'cuz The Makers still got some high-octane fuel for ya with other rockers like "Too Many Fuckers" and the wah-guitar fest, "When We Was Gods." Add in some melodious female background vocals and fine-tuned production precision and you have half of the modern day Makers.

More complicated, and perhaps more difficult to digest for some, is the other part of the Makers' collective cerebrum, that's become privvy to the intricacies of the song. "God's Playing Favorites" has (gasp!) cello and violin parts accompanying slow-burning, dirge-like melodies that are anything but garage-rock munitions. "Texture of a Girl" has a 70s-style late-night, post-drug party hangover feel about it -- slow, rumbling and not too hard on a noggin' that's mushy from vicious abuse.

You can take it or leave it as you please. The Makers do what they want, when they want to. You can always drop an old Makers LP onto the turntable if you want the sounds of yesteryear, but today's Makers sound a little like this...