The stomping opening track and title track "Too Much Yang" gives the impression that this album could be something of a scorcher such is its impact, the decent rocker "Hurricane Boy" and the STONES-like swagger of "I Don't Wanna" reinforce that feeling too but then after the first three tracks "Too Much Yang", the sixth studio album by the Norwegian band that have been about for some 15 years stutters a little and the early raw energy gets lost as slower and/or much more indie rock aligned songs get a chance to shine. Perhaps where the often quoted R.E.M. crossed with CHILLI PEPPERS similarities are probably born?

The funky "My First Time" shows as the best of the mid-album batch alongside the bright BEATLES-like "All The Time" but better, more rock oriented matter like "Early December" and party-piece "We Belong Together" at the end of the album prove worth waiting for.

The brevity of the album at just under 40 minutes will either be a refreshing change and preferable to a disc crammed with further filler or a travesty depending on what you think of the content. Personally I wanted more in the style of the songs I mentioned, and also felt a couple of the better songs were cut far too short. It's not a masterpiece by any means, it's too patchy for that, but some of the individual tracks are certainly worthy of attention.

- Leslie

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