I didn’t know that anyone was still on the whole retro rock type of kick; Used Alien Mind still is, and a song like “Kid Mental” shows a mixture of rockabilly and slightly snotty vocals out of the Stooges school of things. “Kid Mental” really seems to end on a downer of a note; the repetition used on the track moves far beyond simple insinuation of melodies and into a rut which the band has to struggle to escape. This limitation is continued with “The Dirtbombs”, even if the rockabilly influence fades into the background enough to really allow an imitation of current U2.

Each different track on “Positive Mental Theme” really seems to show Used Alien Mind trying a different style; whether this means that the band is struggling to come up with a sound of their own or not, I do not know. “Tomorrow Never Comes” sounds like a NIN track if Trent Reznor lost power in eir house; the use of mood during the track is easily the equivalent of the aforementioned band. With “Tomorrow Never Comes”, Used Alien Mind finally breaks out off the limitations that the first few tracks really constructed on them. In much of the same way, “Open Your Eyes Space Cadet” opens up the possible range of action further for Used Alien Mind; the distorted vocals that are present during the track remind individuals of Marilyn Manson, or even “I’m Afraid of Americans”-era David Bowie. The repetition again becomes evident during “Open Your Eyes Space Cadet”, but the context is different enough for this repetition to actually press the track forwards and out of the early-disc rut.

Used Alien Mind come through with enough styles and sounds to really make this more of a compilation than a specific, cohesive album. The songs on “Positive Mental Theme” are all constructed for popular radio (and I would not be surprised to hear any of these on Clearchannel stations), but there is an intelligent band behind these tracks. I am hoping that Used Alien Mind comes out with a new CD here soon; I have no doubt that if the band finds a few styles that they like, that their final effort will be miles ahead of this album. Get this album for a beginning point and keep hitting up their e-mail to figure out when they will unveil their next work. I believe that this upcoming CD will surprise even jaded music fans.

Top Tracks: Inside, Kid Mental

Rating: 5.9/10

[JMcQ]