The first tune, “World At Large” is an interesting surprise – sounds like someone’s been listening to My Bloody Valentine. “Float On” is messy and raucous with sloppy choruses and hoarse vocals that remind me of Stellastarr*. As the tunes crash and tumble by, I realize Good News has much more in common with 1997’s stylistic mishmash of Lonesome Crowded West than the sleek The Moon and Antarctica. The banjo-plucking in “Bukowski” reflects Isaac Brock’s recent dabblings in folky Americana with Holopaw. The horny “The Devil’s Paw” is practically a parody of Tom Waits and Nick Cave, and doesn’t quite work. It’s enjoyable enough, but might not have as much staying power as the previous album, with its lack of any truly great, memorable tunes. But I suppose that single is all that matters to most people.
