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*** Snake River Conspiracy

SONIC JIHAD

(Kinetic/Reprise)

Snake River Conspiracy invite all kinds of comparisons -- Atari Teenage Riot crossed with Bis, Gwen Stefani singing early Nine Inch Nails, Garbage produced by Tool's Maynard James Keenan. But nothing quite hits the mark. Frontwoman Tobey Torres and former Third Eye Blinder Jason Slater have found the formula for bubblegum industrial that's as catchy as it is harsh. An unfortunate Smiths cover ("How Soon Is Now?") is balanced by the Cure's "Love Song," which SRC infuse with cute ambulance sirens and heart-monitor bleeps. The single "Vulcan" is the logical answer to "Love Song," with its illogical anger ("Fuck you! You fucking faggot!") and searing synths worthy of Asian Dub Foundation (not to mention the sampled Star-Trek-by-way-of-KRS-One "bling"). Gossipy types should note that "Somebody Hates You" is an anti-ode to Third Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins, with what Slater has deemed a "fruity" bridge that actually just sounds creepy as it bobs in the crushing keyboards and Torres's wails. Although Slater concocts the lyrics, Torres spews them like Alanis Morissette singing about blow jobs. But Morissette (or Trent Reznor, for that matter) has never spewed quite like this.

-- Nick Catucci