If the Pixies had been fronted by Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker, they might sound something like Discount. This is a big statement to make, mainly because Discount aren't really as good as either of those bands. But vocalist Alison Mosshart does beg comparison to Tucker-- her gasps and warbles are clearly influenced by the Hot Rocker, but Mosshart never approaches the psycho-soprano yelp that Tucker's perfected. And Discount's songs do sound more than just a little like the Pixies, using arpeggiated chords during the verses and going into overdrive for punky, thrashy choruses.

The album's opening cut, "Broken to Blue," effectively sets the tone for the better part of Crash Diagnostic. With its infectious chord progressions and melodies, subtly distorted guitar, and expressive drumming, the song is pleasing in just about every way. Similar tracks, like "Behind Curtain #," employ the same formula, resulting in an avalanche of bone-crushing rock that simultaneously assaults and comforts. And then there are the duds. "Age of Spitting" sacrifices the hooks that make Discount's music accessible. "Aerial" falls on its uninspired face with bland, forgettable lyrics and a tune that you couldn't even shake a stick to.

Produced by former Jawbox (and current Burning Airlines) frontman J. Robbins, Crash Diagnostic is clean without being over-produced-- every instrument comes through crystal-clear, with a minimum of studio wankery that has become so commonplace among long-time producers. Of course, Crash Diagnostic is by no means brilliant, but it does serve as a sincere, unpretentious, relatively enjoyable album. At its rare worst, the album is obnoxious and uninventive; at its best, it's bright, noisy and tremendously fun. And while it may not be the most creative album to grace the record bins, it executes with talent and raw energetic power.

-Matt LeMay