By Vinnie Apicella

By the time you read this, "Sometimes I don't Mind", the airy first single from Detroit's Suicide Machines will be lighting up the dial of request lines at rock radio faster than you can "Blink… 182"! This third release, simply self-titled, marks a sudden departure and the third route they've chosen since beginning their journey toward the great wide open that we call music. Fans of the ever so slightly more driven attitude that accompanied the likes of "Destruction by Definition" and the hardcore/punk exploits of "Battle Hymns" will be a bit befuddled at the aggrandized nature that defines their newest elaborately pop styled modern rock adventure. Visualize The Gin Blossoms meeting The Beach Boys in a back alley slap-fight that boils over into an escalation of vocal harmonies, pocket comb jabs and gratuitous mod haircutting tips. Unpredictably fashionable, The Suicide's clean cut evolutionary tactics do not completely sweep away their past punk attitude, and fiery up-tempo flare ups-see "I Hate Everything", "Reasons". True, beneath the many gleeful moments that sometimes feature brass orchestration, rap lyrics and holiday in the sun vibes, radiate off the hyperactivity that only a full power high velocity strum of the six string can provide. The Suicide Machines didn't do badly for themselves in the past and now look to strike a nerve with their latest entry into the college crowd crossover sweepstakes with what should prove to be one of the hot new releases of the year!

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