Review

In their first outing pared down to a trio, Eleventh Dream Day continue to focus their post-punk avant-rock leanings. Although songs like "Two Smart Cookies" and "View From the Rim" rock out, most cuts are the kind of slow to mid-tempo dirgelike-tunes-with-guitar-atmospherics that Sonic Youth does so well. Rick Rizzo steps to the front being the sole guitar player, as well as handling all lead vocal duties, while drummer Janet Beveridge Bean contributes only backing vocals this time out. Rizzo has a feedback laden, howling guitar tone much like Karl Precoda from Dream Syndicate, and he puts it to good use on nearly every track. The instrumental "Motion Sickness" really showcases Rizzo's controlled mayhem guitar style, sounding at times like Sonny Sharrock, but even the slowest cuts have moments where he's letting loose. Good pacing and nice production touches help make Eighth a great listen.