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Something Like Human
11/01/2000 4:12 PM, Yahoo! Music
Mike Lipton
Perhaps the first band to have a gold record from Harrisburg, Penn., this band of mostly transplanted Kentuckians scored big with its strong 1998 debut--a muscular, guitar-driven affair that spawned four hits, including "Shimmer." Beginning with "Last Time," the group's follow-up barely lets up throughout the dozen tracks.
Singer Brett Scallions is more melodic and tuneful than most of the hard rock crooners (including the Cult's Ian Astbury, an oft-sited comparison) and guitarist Carl Bell has plenty of Jimmy Page tricks up his sleeve. "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" the disc's first single, is a mid-tempo BIC-lighter ballad that begins with the obligatory acoustic guitar intro--and quickly conjures up tepid Goth imagery ("Don't fall away and leave love bleeding in my hands again"). By the second verse, Scallions redeems himself (for past and possibly all future sins) with the memorable line, "Hold me now, I feel contagious."
If the band isn't original, it at least makes a point to tap a variety of sources. Metallica and Dinosaur Jr. riffs abound on one-word songs like "Scar" and "Down." Radio-friendly cuts like "Prove" and "Easy" showcase Fuel's pop side which, ultimately, is its strong suit. In particular, "Solace" stands out in all areas--a flowing arrangement, plenty of guitar and vocal hooks and the least insipid lyrics.
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