The Aim

Bailter Space's first American release is also one of its strongest, a near-perfect four-song slice of original material that shows why the band's hype was so well deserved. Concentrating the strengths of Thermos and adding a few new touches, like the hushed whispers on the title track, the trio show their ability to rock both tenderly and loudly, but in ways that never sound like the typical connotations of either description. The title track is actually the least memorable of the four, with Parker sounding a bit lazy on the vocals. "We Know" is something else again, with its heavily processed vocals and crunching melody. "Shine" is simply gorgeous, featuring a beautiful background melody, another fantastic Parker love lyric, and understated vocal passion. The kicking thrash of "Unseen" wraps it up, with all three musicians going off, while sticking to that steady beat that's served them so well over the years.