Despite their awesome band name, Crystal Skulls fail to deliver bone mulching skull worship or crank addled riffage on their second full length. No wristbands or sweaty leather pants here, people. Instead they opt for more of the same breezy, indie rock that you may have heard on their last record, Blocked Numbers. More fitting for a pool party than a funeral, Crystal Skulls do their best to blend in with whatever you might be doing while listening to their music. Don't you have to earn a band name like theirs by beating the shit out of some nerds or something?
Anyway, like I was saying, Outgoing Behavior is pretty much on cruise-control as the Skulls make good on their promise to deliver a second dose of sugary pop songs. Carefully laid out and thoughtful guitar lines vie for your attention, politely stepping back to let the drums have a fill or two and then continue onto the next part. Before you know it, half the album has passed in this way and you don't remember a single detail from any of the songs. Oh wait, the second song, Baby Boy, starts out with this really cool Interpol intro, and then goes back into Crystal Skulls mode...and then....I forget.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, like a freshly pressed shirt, Outgoing Behavior is comfortable and gives you the false sense of something new. And yet, these are brand new songs, so how do I already have them all memorized after only two listens? Weird. I guess these guys don't need heavy metal to brainwash kids after all.
- Tyler Botts | 2006-06-08
