Since the release of the masterpiece Slanted and Enchanted in 1992, Pavement has been the indie rock standard for comparison. The five records the band released represented, in many cases, the best the genre had to offer. When Pavement split in 1999, second songwriter/rhythm guitarist Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg formed Preston School of Industry. After a horrific debut (All This Sounds Gas), PSOI redeem themselves with Monsoon, developing into a full-fledged band and finally managing to write a compelling series of rock songs.
All this Sounds Gas failed largely due to the nonsensical lyrics and poor arrangements for songs; Monsoon improves quite a great deal on both fronts. All the songs are new material (an important change from the first album), and they manage to break out of the epic, overwrought feel of many of Spiral’s former compositions. Also, the line-up of the band has turned over completely, and guest appearances from every member of Wilco help immensely. The arrangements are tight and the production quality is much higher.
All the same, it’s really Spiral’s focus and clarity of songwriting that make the album. Catchy tunes “Caught in the Rain” and “Line it Up” move the record along better than anything on All This Sounds Gas. The driving drum breaks on “If the Straits of Magellan Should Ever Run Dry” propel the song toward a simple yet well-executed finale. The album closer “Tone it Down” is quite possibly the best thing Spiral has ever written. The synth line intro and simple verses work well, but the multilayered vocals on the choruses are what sell the first half of the song. The atmospherics fade-out for a simple breakdown and then, as the song builds back in, Spiral’s vocals start looping over themselves. One begins to think that perhaps Pavement’s second man deserves a second chance.
