I subject all of my CDs to the 645 test. (I've probably mentioned this before, but bear with me.) During my buttcrack- of- dawn commute to work, I rely on Mother Music to bring me into a state of relative consciousness. Contrary to what you might think, the style of music need not be extreme; Sunny Day Real Estate can be just as effective, if not more so, than Minor Threat. The key here is engagement-- some type of adrenal or emotional stimulation that causes synaptic signals to go surging forth in my brain, reaffirming proof that I am human, not machine.

Brandston's latest failed to pass the test... which is not to suggest that it isn't a good album, it's just not extraordinary enough to alter the thick drapes of slumber which weigh heavy upon me at 6:45 in the morning. Perhaps the overall mood of this album is too much like my state of awareness at the time: reserved, indifferent, sluggish, drowsy.

Striking me as especially uninspired are the vocals. The lyrics seem to lack any type of meaningful anchor, and though they're oftentimes quite poetic, they seem to swim along at a leisurely pace without latching on to any point of actual significance. In fact, the style and subject matter of each song's lyrics are so similar they're virtually interchangeable. This may be part of the reason why the vocals themselves seem more perfunctory than passionate. Is it too much to ask to have an occasional sense of heightened emotion, dynamic changes rather than a consistently conservative delivery?

But I wrong the band too much. In my review of Brandston's first album, I suggested they might fully realize their potential once they forged beyond the confines of the stifling "emo" caste in which they have been cast. They have partially succeeded. "Breaking Ground" boldly bears an upbeat tempo that most other emo- cats would quickly scoff at. "Things Look Brighter" takes a speed train even further into the land of courage by incorporating a Cars- like synth melody. The length of the songs has become far more fitting for the ideas those songs aim to express. And the band has become much less reliant upon distortion, which formerly tended to muddy their pure- minded efforts. In many respects, this maturing Brandston resembles the Juliana Theory, though I personally find these guys much more satisfying.

Chances are, Fallen Star Collection will be receiving much more airtime during my commute back home, when the toils of the day have ended, and I'm in a much better condition to appreciate the soothing tones the album most generously provides.

-Kevin Ruggeri