Wasted in America

by Ed RivadaviaKicking off with perhaps their best single yet, Wasted in America's title track propels Love/Hate into what initially promises to be another amphetamine-fueled romp through hard-rock excess. This promise soon turns to disappointment, however, as the subsequent songs lack the focus of the band's once fabulously straightforward sound. If anything, Love/Hate is guilty of trying to cover too much ground, and pieces like "Spit," "Happy Hour," and "Yucca Man" alternate reliably catchy choruses with strangely jagged, off-kilter verses. The result is more disjointed than exciting, and further attempts at creepy atmospherics ("Cream," "Don't be Afraid") and acoustic forays "Don't F**k With Me," "Social Sidewinder" are more amusing than interesting. Of the remaining tracks, the only real winning moments arrive with the interesting dynamics of "Time's Up" and the pop hooks of "Miss America." Hardly a bad album, Wasted in America simply leaves a lot to be desired when compared to its predecessor.