The second outing by Ireland's Cyclefly, Crave finds them putting further distance between themselves and the rap-metal and alterna-rock treadmills, embracing a downright 80s melodic sense and dramatic scale. Even the lyrics from the opening "No Stress" (I can't hide my frustration / I don't like generation / We don't need your limitations") suggest that this is a band significantly less interested in fashionably reinventing the wheel than it is grounding itself in a little powerful history. Singer Declan O'Shea has drawn comparisons with alternative touchstones Iggy Pop and Perry Farrell, but his expressive, riveting vocals actually seem inspired by more wildly disparate sources, variously recalling Rush's Geddy Lee ("Selophane Fixtures") and the Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler (the rhythmic, low-key impressionism of the title track and the edgy, entrancing "Crowns"). The twin guitars of Declan's brother Ciaran and Nono Presta are powerful underpinnings throughout, whether grinding out stereotypical buzz-saw chords or the more lyrical riffing of the anthemic "Drive". While it's refreshing to find a young band savvy enough to realise that a quarter century of punk rock has spawned its own considerable body of tired clichés, Cyclefly occasionally play it a little too familiar when spreading their songwriting wings. Still, it's hard to argue with results that immediately grab a listener's attention and keep it so masterfully. This is the sound of a great young band still finding its voice--and a far cry from the sophomore slump. --Jerry McCulley
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