Crayon - EP

A quick blast of a six-song maxi-single, Crayon captures 18th Dye in fine form; while the trio will never be a groundbreaking act, their fine fusion of various indie-rock strains continues apace. Buttrich's guitar is still the not-so-secret weapon of the band. His playing can wax both fierce, as on "Aug.," or tender, as on the main line of "16 Ink," either way doing the business with just enough art to make it something more than mere grunge, fuzz, or shoegazing; his often gently wistful singing also blends in quite nicely. Radeker and Bendtsen keep the rhythm chugging along, succeeding best on brisk, propulsive numbers like "Ray." The definite highlight is the confidently anthemic "Mystics II," which combines a vast sound and stately pace with a slightly bizarre lyric. While no great change or evolution from the previous release, Crayon still has enough charm to make it a worthwhile purchase for anyone enamored of post-punk alternative sounds.