Our Lady Peace: Spiritual Machines

Canada seems to grow 'em either snarky or sincere, and Our Lady Peace are the sincerest modern rockers unleashed yet by our northern neighbors. Their fourth album shows no change in their rock-festival-ready sound nor any lessening in their likable earnestness; inventor Ray Kurzweil's speculative book about machines taking over the world provides the title. OLP agonize melodically about whether we are more than a sum of our chemicals, and even if their hazy logic doesn't much help the argument, their hazy songwriter-ish rock, with its blurred edges and buried vocals, makes for a pleasant exploration. "Are You Sad?" builds layer by frantic, cosseting layer; "Middle of Yesterday" is alternately chunky and sinuous; and "If You Believe" squeals like Jimi Hendrix but purrs like Jerry Garcia. Quotes from Kurzweil's text link the songs, but they're irrelevant to the band's brainy jams and unusual dynamics. (RS 869 - May 24, 2001)

ARION BERGER


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