Remember the Replikants' debut, This is Our Message? Well, goddamnit, you should! Jesus Allen Christ! When I tell you to buy something, you better damn well buy it! Okay, dropping my God complex for a minute, let me clue you guys in.

In 1997, Justin Trosper and Brandt Sandeno (both of Unwound) released 24 bizarre sound experiments that ranged from the noisy to the noisiest. The album definitely qualifies as one of the 50 strangest records released in the history of music-- you just kind of have to witness it for yourself. That was the Replikants in its original form.

A mere two years later, the Replikants are back with an expanded line-up. It's still primarily Trosper and Sandeno's gig, but they've added new members Joe Plummer of Bare Minimum, icu's Aaron Hartman, Modest Mouse DJ, K.O.-- that's right, a DJ-- and drummer William Goldsmith of the Foo Fighters and Sunny Day Real Estate.

Slickaphonics finds the guys more focused and in command. That is, the songs inarguably have more direction, though it doesn't make the album any less predictible than the last. Songs like the opening slab of dancable electronic groove, "Like a Droid to the Slaughter," the angular "The Cyber Ghetto," the spastic "The Sportcoat" and reverse- guitar- laden "Sicilian Defense" show the band moving more in the direction of rock auteurs like Trans Am.

Of course, the album's defining moment comes with the moody closer, "Replikants Requiem." Chock- full of dreamy psychedelia, wailing and distorted guitars, and keyboard- simulated piano imitations (you'd never know), it's easily one of the better drug songs of the year. And the bonus track is pretty nuts, too.

I don't know where you want to file these guys in the record store, but you better start thinking about it-- categorizing a band this creative isn't for little babies.

-Ryan Schreiber