Everyone in music bears the uneasy burden of the cole slaw of rock. Everyone. What am I talking about? Well, take any artist who makes music and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in terms of what kind of cole slaw it represents-- then maybe you'll see what I'm getting at. Oh, an example? Fine. We'll demonstrate on A-Set's The Science of Living Things.

A-Set is the latest vision of one Albert Menduno, which is worth pointing out, if for no other reason than the slight humor value of his surname being so close to the Hispanic pop band Menudo. Other fun facts about Menduno? He used to play in the fearsome hardcore outfit Mohinder before churning out some fine four- track noise- pop with Duster. He was also once involved in a project called Haelah, of which I know nothing about. A-Set is his newest offering, and that's, of course, what we're here to discuss.

But first, remember. Cole slaw = metaphor for rock.

So, what kind of cole slaw is The Science of Living Things? Well, the EP has that sincere lo-fi pop feeling that was so much the style in, oh, 1994. Its ingredients are pretty basic-- you have your carrots (guitars), your cabbage (drums, organs, assorted bleeps), and your dollops of mayonnaise (singing). It tastes slightly sweet, despite its relatively bland consistency, and it requires a few minutes before the flavor of its invasion has truly had you accustomed to it. As your incisors bite into a few carrots, it makes a vague, warm impression on you. You sorta like it. You think, "Hey, this isn't making be barf." For that, you are thankful.

A few hours later, you try to remember it. You can't. It was, well... cole slaw. Not particularly impressive. You have a slight recollection that the mayonnaise (vocals) kinda rubbed you the wrong way. Like the chef put a bit too much of it in there.

That evening, some things come back to you. You conclude thus-like: this cole slaw is heartfelt and honest, but also slightly dated. We can characterize it as being your typical garden- variety kind. No funny shit like paprika or coriander in there. Just plain, run- of- the- mill cole slaw. Maybe you'll buy it again. Maybe you won't.

-Samir Khan