With only one somewhat forgettable album since the departure of original bassist, Joe Loeffler, Chevelle had some living up to do with the release of their most recent effort, Sci-Fi Crimes. While 2007’s Vera Sera was not considered a failure, it certainly did not hold a candle to the success of Chevelle’s previous two albums, 2004’s This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) and 2002’s Wonder What’s Next. Before Sci-Fi Crimes. I considered Chevelle to be a decent rock band capable of making some catchy radio-friendly tunes. However, with their new album, Chevelle have shown that they are not merely pop radio rockers, but actually talented musicians and song writers. Many of Chevelle’s hit singles have sounded generally the same, radiating the same breathy, echoing vocals to define their sound. On Sci-Fi Crimes, though, not only do the songs maintain Chevelle’s penchant for catchy lyrics and riffs, but they stand out from previous singles, as well as from other songs on the album.
While I can’t recall one word from Vera Sera’s “hit single,” “Well Enough Alone,” the chorus of “Jars,” the first single off Sci-Fi Crimes can hardly be purged from my brain. There seems to be more passion, frustration, and a stronger message behind Sci-Fi Crimes than the typical emo-rock Chevelle has subjected us to in the past. While the album is undoubtedly Chevelle, it has a uniqueness that is to be celebrated as an unmistakably solid rock album. Sci-Fi Crimes never really lulls at any point. Even the somewhat slower “Roswell’s Spell” has melodious and even daresay beautiful vocals scattered throughout. The eerily whispered line “Does anybody really see anyone?” is reminiscent of Maynard James Keenan, of course, without the Tool/A Perfect Circle vibe to coincide. On “Fell Into Your Shoes,” vocalist Pete Loeffler, illustrates his ability to move smoothly in and out of falsettos that sound neither forced nor out of place. Chevelle gets acoustic on “Highland’s Apparition.” While the song may never see the airwaves, it is nonetheless another example of a standalone success of a song from Sci-Fi Crimes. Some may garner the tune as possibly too emo, and while it may not have been perfectly produced, as at times it seems somewhat unfinished, it is certainly worthy of a few listens. The tone behind “This Circus” is positively electric. The main guitar riff is solidly throbbing with hard-rock headbanging. The chorus slows it up in a breakdown procession, but fits tightly with the beat and overall rhythm of the song. Listeners would be hard-pressed to listen to this song without getting the wailing guitars stuck in their head. While some of the lyrics may get drowned out by the heavily drive guitars, “This Circus” maintains its strength and would most likely not fail as an upcoming single. In fact, many of the songs on Sci-Fi Crimes have what it takes to make it as a mainstream track on the radio. “Sleep Apnea” is another solid rock track, with powerful vocals and deep instrumentals to match, that would fair very well given its opportunity to be put into broadcast rotation.
I would expect Chevelle to get their money’s worth out of “Jars” before releasing another single, so as not to over-saturate their presence on the airwaves, as they have done in the past. Chevelle will not founder without their original bassist after all. If Chevelle continues with this experimental progression, I can only look forward to their future endeavors. With adequately spaced-out singles, I expect Sci-Fi Crimes to achieve a fair amount of commercial success, and certainly more success and popularity (not to mention, sales) than Chevelle has seen in several years.
"Sci-Fi Crimes" is on sale August 31, 2009 from Sony.
