And now for something completely different. . . Maybe it's a Karma thing. Once a month I run into a CD that I just don't know what to do with. I have to try very had NOT to discard it, but that usually lasts until I remember the "Rush Factor." When "Rush" releases a new album, half of the people just don't get it. Why? Because they are too far ahead of the pack and it's not fair to compare them to the average release in the same field. A five-year-old "Rush" CD sounds like it was released last week. Because of that phenomenon, I give the benefit of the doubt to music that sounds a bit too weird (which is not the same as music that is plain and simply lousy).

"Wellwater Conspiracy" (WWC) is one of those groups. While on the surface they sound like any other up and coming pop band out there, this illusion is only skin deep. Beneath that pop costume lies a serious mix of progressive rock and heavy metal, with a hint of "The Doors" and some early "Led Zeppelin."

John McBain ("Monster Magnet") and Matt Cameron ("Soundgarden") have put together an intriguing piece of work. Some of the songs are borderline psychedelic, which explains why it kept tasting like "Doors" mixed with "Led Zeppelin." Some of the other tracks rock. The eighth track, "B.O.U.," sounds like what the Beatles would have recorded if they had ended up in Seattle a few years ago. Pure genius.

Some of the tracks border on the dramatic, including the opening track, "Destination 24," and "Psycho Scrimm." I'm glad that there are musicians that still remember "Yes" and "Emerson, Lake And Palmer." Rock doesn't mean "loud electric guitar," and these guys prove it. Of course, if guitars is what you want, then you will be pleased, as there is a healthy dose of exceptional guitar playing throughout the album, my favorite being "Good Pushin'."

McBain and Cameron got this one right. Hopefully they will be able to get together again and make more exceptional music. "Brotherhood Of Electric: Operational directive(s)" is an interesting experiment and a good indicator of things to come.