Synth. Pop. Two words that probably never should have appeared in consecutive order. Two words synonymous with the pointless cocaine- addled, black- eyeshadow- wearing, frilly- cuff- sporting 1980s. Save the almighty Devo, it's a genre for the kind of burnt out, humorless waifs who go on to become account executives for adult diaper distributors.

Vern Rumsey normally smashes those types to bits as bass player in the once- formidable arty punk band Unwound. That he's dabbling in pop is not entirely surprising-- his precise bass- playing often made me think that he was not, in fact Vern Rumsey, Human Being, but some sort of bassline- generating robot. Working under the moniker of Red Rumsey, along with some guy (a very cute guy, judging from the cover shot) who goes by Alien America, Long Hind Legs screams "side project" like some wailing, torn- pantyhose discotheque banshee.

Like most side projects, Long Hind Legs is an outlet for some hidden fetishes. Who would have expected that Rumsey had a soft spot for big, melancholic quirk-pop along the lines of Spandau Ballet? Beginning with the ridiculous instrumental synth-wank of "Neutronica Finale," and proceeding with mannered, spacey vocals over songs like "Killing Distance" and "A New Kind of Bird," it's a side you wouldn't guess was even there while listening to the furious attack of a great band like Unwound. Most of the songs featured here don't reveal any sense of self- reflection about the decidedly unpunk approach. Only the hilarious "I Am A Intellectual," which features the priceless lyrics "Matha Rosler and Pierre Bourdieu/ Think of the little people/ When they are making love," indicates that this may be a send-up and not a tribute.

Which makes me wonder. Would I give a shit if this was, say, the new Tears For Fears record? Does the Kill Rock Stars imprint on the record's sleeve make this project somehow worthwhile? Does the "featuring Vern Rumsey of Unwound" sticker attached mean that punk kids are going to go for this? The answers, in order: No. Yes. Yes. Shameless, isn't it?

-Samir Khan