Chronic nailbiters are an interesting breed. Projecting nervous anxiety and excitement onto one of the more bizarre parts of the human anatomy, nailbiters are symbols of overflowing and uncontrollable emotion. And the fact that Bare Minimum has titled their album Can't Cure The Nailbiters suggests much about the band itself-- an underlying belief that emotions and outwardly emotional expressions such as music need to be contained lest they get the best of you. Therein lies the insurmountable weakness of this record; the band is so restrained and the music so languid, that it cancels out any intended emotion and ultimately disinterests the listener.

Bare Minimum are obviously working under the maxim of "Less is more" (hence their band name). But as the packaging makes clear, sometimes less is actually boring and uninspiring. If you need evidence, listen to the first thirty seconds of the album, perhaps the dullest beginning moments of any record I have ever heard. The guitar eventually adds another layer to this droning landscape, boosting interest a bit, but not sufficiently enough to save fast- fading impressions of the band. Imagine the least interesting moments of Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, make them incredibly less interesting, and you have the basic makeup of Can't Cure The Nailbiters-- slightly discordant guitars, lethargic rhythms, subdued vocals that generally mimic the melodic pattern already established by the guitar, sedative effects, consequent snoring.

Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate fame provides vocals and piano on "Luchuk," and not surprisingly, these are the most noteworthy moments on the album. But even with his help, the material remains so substandard that one can only guess at his motivations. (Maybe he felt sorry for the band?)

Some might classify Bare Minimum's sound as "mood music" and with this classification attempt to justify its lack of imagination and spark as necessary (i.e. "It's supposed to be background music for drug use, sex, or sleep, so it can't demand too much attention."), but I say phooey! Minimalism can serve a specified artistic purpose, but not when it's used merely as an excuse to offer slacked-up sounds in the name of music.

-Kevin Ruggeri