Most of my feelings (all positive!) are expressed there. The production on this disc, their first to my knowledge, is spotty at best and only does the band justice on a handful of songs, so I feel like I'm walking on some thin ice. I have high hopes for them, based on my happy trip out one recent weeknight to see them live. I'm hopeful that they find an experienced producer who gets the idea for the next round.

Don't be fooled by the hippie-dippy moniker. Mindflower are every bit the serious undertaking. On this freshman effort, ".com," the opener, Underwater, is suitably poppy and uptempo, but what I really love is the reverse-gatey noise of Incredible Edible. This, punched up, should have been the Single That Could. I see where this was going. Finally, bands that are not afraid of including feedback! (I'm not being facetious. It really works on this one.) I also think "Sugar," with a style that lands somewhere between the Doors and Alice in Chains with a decidedly upward lift to it, is a standout. None of these are the radio-friendly singles most people, fans and labels alike, are looking for, but we all know by now how fervently I honor that.

Vocalist Randy Bates reminds me of a happier Jim Morrison, now that I think of it, and especially on "Stay Away." The ballad "Twin" makes me wonder - either someone in the band read Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much Is True" or has a relationship with their own twin that's fraught with division, strife, and pain, as many twins' lives are. Guitarist Craig Martin fires it up and keeps it coming, especially on the incendiary "Blown Up," which I'd love even more if they could have steered clear of the cheesy three-part harmonies. Note: No need for 80s hair-metal maneuvers. We're past that now.

The record, in comparison to their live show, seems badly overproduced. There's a few keepers, but even those could use a little backtracking.

If you're in L.A., try to catch one of their frequent weeknight shows. I promise it's one of the better ones going.