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by gerald poindexter

The Crystal Method is an American band with a new album of American electronic music. It's the kind of music that a patriotic, guitar-based rocker like Bob Seger or a patriotic, guitar-based country star like Toby Keith would probably hate, but might respect. Why? Because, like Seger's and Keith's, the Crystal Method's music is what is: direct and unapologetic; tried and true.

Method men Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland

have a track on "Legion of Boom" called "True Grit." Maybe, somehow, the late, all-American hero John Wayne – the Duke, to his fans – is listening and smiling. Of course, he would also probably hate the music, but he might respect

it.

These 12 new tracks, Crystal Method's first collection since 2001's "Tweekend," are not especially compelling, invigorating or vital.

They certainly possess more soul and

machismo than the glossy, sometimes

borderline disco stylings of such European electronic stars as Paul Van Dyk and Timo

Maas. Nonetheless, what Jordan and Kirkland achieve is merely competent; American-style electronica – manic beats, brooding bass lines, cranky guitars, dizzying sound FX – delivered aggressively and to a formulaic, blustering build.

This derivation is annoying for a band on its third album, and ironically, the Crystal Method is largely derivative of itself. While not currently relevant or rave-worthy, its sound and fury are familiar, oft-emulated (at times, by the likes of BT and Uberzone), and borne of 1990s desert raves and the warehouse parties of Southern California.

Not surprisingly, "Legion of Boom," like "Tweekend," which featured Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, serves up hip collaborations. However, the new ones yield lesser results. This time, it's John Garcia, who years ago perfected ear-piercing tonality as lead singer for Kyuss and painfully, repeatedly resurrects it for the single "Born Too Slow." Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland also riffs on the track, which is synth-ish and vaguely Gary Numan-ish, but melodically doesn't measure up to such past singles as the sample-happy "The Name of the Game" and "Keep Hope Alive."

Additional vocalists (of the non-vocoder variety) include actress-model-singer Milla Jovovich, Bell Rays frontgrrrl Lisa Kekaula, and Rahzel (ex-the Roots). Lyrically, none says or does anything special, but seemingly exists to either set up or garnish the next bombastic techno-, house-or rock-infused build. Jovovich ethereally wisps on "I Know It's You," and Kekaula drops authoritative, R&B sass on "Realizer." Meanwhile, "The American Way" spotlights Jordan and Kirkland's worst call. They enlist Rahzel, a human beatbox specialist, but he raps more than rocks the box, as he has to great effect with the likes of drum-'n'-bass hero Roni Size.

Originally published in The San Diego Union-Tribune, January 29, 2004
Photo Credit: EMI Music