Sneäkpeek

Review by Paul Watkin

This five-song CD from local rockers Cirkus Mind carries a thematic dedication to the youth of our society. The first track, "November 28^th," relates the story of the unnecessary death of 18-year-old Danny Teese, shot down by police in 1972, and sets the tone for the rest of the disc, namely lyrical intensity. Unfortunately, the lyrics are unmatched by the music.

Awkward drum parts and unimaginative guitar work with an at times underlying spacey feel combine to give these rock songs a feeling of being forced and overly contrived. That's what bugs me: if you're going to dedicate songs to youth, you have to give the songs that uninhibited energy that drives youth, and that's what's missing in the songs. The intensity found in the lyrics stands alone and loses its effectiveness to invoke powerful images.

It's too bad, because Cirkus Mind appear to have many things to say, but this Sneäkpeek is like spying on toast: it's just not that exhilarating.

Artist Contact Info: P.O. Box 65, 2831 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, B.C., V3C 3H1