FRANCES THE MUTE

A crazy mix of every musical style imaginable - psychedelia, punk/metal and Latin jazz chief among them - all amplified to 11. The rhythm section reminds me of Rush and Santana simultaneously; the guitarist borrows liberally from Fripp, but sounds more like a metal god; the vocalist tries for Plant-like wails, but ends up sounding like a strange cross between Geddy Lee and Robert Smith from Cure. Ambient noises serve to give listeners some cool-down time in between the bursts of musical intensity.

Best new band out there? Certainly. But does it have to be so damn LOUD??