Don't get pulled in by Monster Magnet

Monster Magnet shares one unquestionable trait with the Spice Girls. People in general either love the band or loath it.

But even if you loathe Monster Magnet, a part of you still shamefully envies the band.

If the members of The Spice Girls are the poster girls of "girl power," the guys of Monster Magnet are the poster boys of the power of resentment, degeneration, sexual desires and acid trips.

On their fourth A&M release, "Powertrip," the boys of Monster Magnet continue to peddle their brew of no-frills, power-chord rock & roll.

REVIEW
	Monster Magnet Powertrip 3 stars A&M Records

There's no incorporation of dance beats or samplers, just good old loud guitars and plenty of testosterone.

Singer Dave Wyndorf throws one of the most sincere rock signs on the cover of the album this side of an Iron Maiden concert.

Wyndorf also does not fail to complement his songs with his trademark sci-fi and devil's advocate lyrics.

"I'm your living crop circle," Wyndorf proclaims on "Crop Circle."

He later muses on "Bummer" that "Some people go to bed with Lucifer, then cry when they don't greet the day with God."

With producer Matt Hyde (Porno for Pyros) and mixer Randy Staub (Metallica), Monster Magnet has delivered another album that stays true to all things that rock.

From the stoner blues sounds of "Space Lord" to the Pulp Fiction-worthy "19 Witches," Monster Magnet grooves, rocks and soothes its way through the 13-track album.

The album, however, lacks the catchy hooks and memorable riffs of Monster Magnet's previous effort, "Dopes to Infinity."

Despite the amazing lyrics on "Powertrip," the music this time seems to just be an exercise of tried and true rock & roll staples. You see the blows coming long before the punch is thrown.

But ultimately, what makes Monster Magnet simultaneously endearing and annoying is its complete embrace of rock & roll values.

From the fist hurling riffs to Wyndorf's delivery of the lyrics, the band stays completely true to rock & roll's blueprints. Not a single "Oh Yeah," or "Baby" is misplaced.

This is a worthy effort, but it exudes a thick air of familiarity. Kind of like how the seemingly new sound of The Spice Girls is actually just a recycled, mass-manufactured pop-machine product.

07-06-98