Ten Spot (Blue Vinyl)

Shudder to Think's debut had received a little notice, and the group's relatively dreamy pop/rock tendencies -- compared to the rest of their label's roster of punk and hardcore -- might have led to some stylistic tinkering. The D.C. band definitely stuck out, so it would be reasonable to conclude that all the extra attention could have inspired the group to work even harder at what would become their definitive sound. Unfortunately, the band sounds like they're stuck in an incubation phase on Ten Spot. Despite some nice highlights like "Rag," with its emocore chorus elements, and the nice transitions included on "Corner of My Eye," an almost palpable lack of confidence limits this record's accomplishments. Craig Wedren doesn't implement his falsetto with anything like the skill of later recordings, and guitarist Chris Matthews clearly isn't the complimentary performer that Nathan Larson would become years later. ~ Vincent Jeffries