The third album is usually about the time the law of diminishing returns catches up with a band that doesn’t change its sound much from album to album. Although the sound still may be great, the performances lively, and the songs just as catchy as before, the magic can’t help but fade. This is the fact behind the Capstan Shafts’ third album, Fixation Protocols. Apart from a slight boost in sound quality and the occasional tinkling piano, it sounds exactly like the previous two albums, Euridice Proudhon and Environ Maiden. Dean Wells (the man in the one-man band scenario) still writes brief, punchy pop songs that are heavily indebted to Guided by Voices’ brand of Brit-pop worship and raw, one-take sensibility. It sounds like Wells has run out of ideas but is pressing on regardless. Hopefully, Wells will find more of that elusive inspiration soon, because at his best, he’s a fine songwriter. – Tim Sendra
more »