State Radio - Year of the Crow

There's energy, ambition, and talent aplenty on this, Massachusetts trio State Radio's second album. Fronted gallantly by former Dispatch member Chad Stokes, the outfit mark themselves out as the rightful heirs to Rage Against the Machine's position as musical revolutionaries. Caught in their sights this time around are the litany of injustices alleged to be perpetrated by the C.I.A, the existence of Guantanamo Bay, and the case of the West Memphis Three. Musically, Year of the Crow bounces out of the case and skanks its way into your CD player. With varying degrees of success, the outfit meshes together elements of dub, rock, and ska-punk, without truly belonging to any one genre. It's not all bombast and fury, however; the subtler moments betray an ear for more delicate arrangements and give the album a necessary sonic dynamic which successfully suspends the faintest waft of monotony. A strong return. [Neal Parsons]