I thought it was a nightmare, then it turned out to be reality. I dreamed that freedom- rock had made a retro- reference comeback and that indie- pop bands were starting to reflect the sounds of David Crosby's pre- prison days and Neil Young's pre- burnout days. Brash young fellas with Nikes and NBA hats were twanging their guitars and slowing down the rock to cry "Freedom!" Oh God! The horror! The horror!

It turns out I had just left Brad's Interiors playing while I slept. Perhaps Stone Gossard had been infected by the free- dumb rock movement when his other band, Pearl Jam, had been working with Young, but that still doesn't explain vocalist Shawn Smith's likeness to the delicate warblings of the Graham Nash of long ago.

In any case, Interiors is 11 tracks of mildly retro-sound, with a few passable songs, the rest being simply crap. Despite no shortage of trying, I cannot rationalize the inclusion of "I Don't Know," "Upon My Shoulders" or "Funeral Song," all gut- wrenchingly bad dirges better suited for the memorable Hell's Angels funeral of Old Eddie than in my CD player (or yours). If you must cry Freedom!, try Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Deja Vu on for size, and leave this in the bargain bin.

-James P. Wisdom