Centro-Matic

Fort Recovery

(Misra)

Record Review by Alexis Roberts

Centro-Matic sure are prolific; they have something like 19 releases since 1995 (full lengths, EPs, split EPs, and 7-inches). Their latest, Fort Recovery, is quite good, although it’s a bit unfortunate that Centro-Matic didn’t really try anything new with this release. It’s definitely a safe album and sounds similar to many of the rest of the CDs in their extensive catalog. Scott Danbom’s vocals remain up to par—the lyrics are strong, too—and still have the same Flaming Lips flare to them.

“Triggers and Trash Heaps” stands tall above the rest of the songs, while “The Fugitives Have Won” and “In Such Crooked Times” are among the other standouts on the album—and maybe even some of the best songs I’ve heard from this band in general. Fort Recovery is great for the times when you want to put on an album that doesn’t require dissection on every song; the downside is that it doesn’t grab you and demand your attention. When you are releasing music at such a rapid pace, little details that could make each song more individual tend to get lost in the transfer. I was hoping for a bit more adventure on this album, although I appreciate the consistency that Centro-Matic always brings; having 19 solid releases under your belt is no easy task.