12 Rods
Split Personalities
[V2]
Rating: 9.7
1997 saw Minneapolis' best- loved local band get signed to an up- and-
coming label on the strength of their phenomenal self- produced EP, Gay?.
Everyone in the city cheered, spilled their drinks, waited, and waited
some more. The album's release date was postponed numerous times. People
fell asleep, dreaming of the day the band's album might see daylight.
The record was postponed again. Everyone got old. And today, the 368,383
residents of Minneapolis are about to be awakened with a thunderous noise
called Split Personalities. Yes, people... the day has come.
12 Rods' debut long- player is finally out.
How's it sound? Well, to paraphrase lead vocalist Ryan Olcott, it's
easy to swallow and easier to digest. The album opens with the bluesy
"Split Personality" and in an instant, you know how it's all going
to go down: For weeks you'll eat, sleep and dream this album, whether
you care to or not. But that's fine. The music continues.
The band's sound has changed a bit from Gay?. Olcott's vocals
are at the front of the mix rather than drowned out by the furious
wall of sound that backs him up, and their songs are a little noiser (as
evidenced by tracks like the Duran Duran/ Smashing Pumpkins hybrid
"Chromatically Declining Me" and the dizzying "The Stupidest Boy").
Otherwise, these are the same three geeks we've always known and
loved.
Their new arsenal of material is shockingly good. As usual, the
songs do a wonderful job of combining gooey sentimentality with
violent frustration, and Ryan Olcott's trademark awkwardness and
self- loathing delivers his message perfectly. Tonight in
Minneapolis, people will cheer, spill their drinks and riot; their
souls filled with rock and roll. Sweet, sweet gift we finally have.
-Ryan Schreiber