Review
Splendid E-zine Review Jan-29-2001

Lately I keep hearing this stupid pain reliever commercial with some chick complaining that regular pain relievers just won't cut it -- she needs to have a really specific medicine to deal with her specific symptoms. Unless you're a princess, I doubt that's true. Advil, Tylenol, I can't tell a difference; you only need stronger stuff if you're in really serious trouble -- say, a compound skull fracture. Same with the Mentals' Oh Well.

You could listen to the Pixies or Dinosaur Jr., but if you have neither of them at hand, the Mentals will do just fine. Like those bands, the Mentals' guitars rip-roar like a log splitter. Their guitars stop and start like a sixteen-year old braking for rabbits. They scream their incomprehensible lyrics in a familiar style. I'm not saying that these similarities are bad; I need the Pixies -- and by association, the Mentals -- just as much as I need my Advil. "Virgin Mary", "Bell Jar" and even the quieter, more acoustic "Purgatory" sound enough like the aforementioned famous artists to make you need them.

I can't tell from the lyrics whether or not the Mentals have a sense of humor -- the lines I can distinguish are all too straight to make me laugh. Great original creativity they ain't got. Great sound and passion, they do.

by J.S. Splendid E-Zine