Listening to Juliana Theory's talent for passionate restraint, as evidenced in their latest offering, I'm reminded of a comment once used to subtly criticize a band I used to play in. Mind you, I don't recall the exact words used in the damning praise, but it was something to the effect of, "They have all the heart of Samiam, but half the spunk," or, "Sounds like a Samiam that forgot to drink its morning coffee." Though it was certainly an honor to be even remotely likened to one of the greatest bands that has ever set foot upon this blessed earth (do you sense bias, or is it just me?), the cold recognition of our not quite achieving the same caliber of success was still painfully real.

I say this to partly congratulate the Juliana boys, but also to call attention to some of their new album's failings. If the power of both the album's alpha and omega was replicated throughout the work, these gents would be the next emo sensation. This isn't meant to suggest that what comes between these magical musical bookends is stewing in ass- gravy, just that tracks one ("Black Metal Stars") and ten ("All That Deth Jazz") happen to come closest to a rather impressive song I heard previously from the band: a song emotional without being sappy, melodic without being vapid, guitar- oriented without going the way of cock- rock.

The stuff between the proverbial Oreo shells is inconsistent. Some of it rocks with the thundering intensity of a thousand jackhammers burrowing into secluded stone, while other tracks whimper along, occasionally redeeming themselves in the end. Musical reminisces include relatively unknown fellow Seattlellites Alcohol Funnycar in more aggressive moments, and the new and arguably improved Jimmy Eat World, during the softer sections. (In fact, "Show Me the Money" bears more than a comfortable resemblance to Jimmy Eat World's much stronger, "Believe in What You Want.")

The overall impression is a favorable one, but the Juliana Theory might want to consider putting a bit more pep in the step. If they accomplish this delicate task, new day darlinghood won't be far away.

-Kevin Ruggeri