This is a re-issue of an album that originally came out in 2002. I don't know why they chose to release it again but I say it's a good thing they did. Good not only because of the enhanced CD-ROM extras, but also because it's a great record that not enough people know about. This threesome from Oakland, CA (two guys, one gal) have a sound uniquely their own, like a mellower MELVINS. Or a groovier HELMET. Or maybe even a totally doomed out QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE.

Anyway, "Mysterioso?" is an album that manages to be a lot of things at the same time. While the inventive guitar work goes from raw stoner riffage to screeching noise, the majority of the the songs are short, to-the-point and often quite melodic. And then Johan Zamora's double bass drums kick in and it suddenly sounds like full blown metal again. So if you must insist on putting a label on this then I'd suggest just calling it heavy rock. With some post-punk overtones. Ah, you see? There I go again. TOTIMOSHI play a kind of heavy music that refuses to be pigeonholed, which is pretty cool in my book. My personal highlights on this album are the storming opener "Float", the amazing noise riff that opens "Screwed" and the very odd "Vitreol-A", which you'll just have to hear for yourself. In fact, my only point of criticism is that I would have liked the vocals a little more up front in the mix.

Well, that and the fact that this is not a new TOTIMOSHI album of course.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.totimoshi.com

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