The Mark Inside Static/Crash. Release Date : March, 2004. Label: Maple Music. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. The first two tracks ("Carousel" and "Sweet Little Sister") I had on my computer from somewhere - might have been their website. The album contains much different versions though and I think I like the earlier, non-album tracks better. They seemed more raw and chaotic, with cracking voices and so much fuzz. This band is just crazy though - they have a bit of a softsoul core of old 60's pop rock, and a crunchy outer shell of raging dirty southern rawk. Even though they're from smalltown Canada. Geoff Bennett's voice is so strained and growling, absolutely controlled yelling. You are forced to bop along, on "Carousel," considering its especially infectious beat. It was a perfect choice for a single. Yeah the original rawness really needs to stay."Little Sister" orignally had way more growl and sexy attitude. "Coming Back Under Attack" is a more messy, lo-fi sounding ballad, right out of the 60's. The low fi fuzz continues... the vocals are behind so much megaphoniness. It's interesting, it's almost like they're trying to disguise something about Bennett's voice, which isn't necessary because he has a great rock voice. Oh this album is straight into the mud, it's so dirty. Slow gritty guitars carrying the weight of the songs, porchfront sorrow mixed with smalltown rage in the bottom of a bottle of whiskey. I gotta say it's not like the album is full of surprises. There's a few bits of twinkling noises that seem out of place (in a good way), but it's really super solid. Something to rock to, drink up to, just go totally off the wall to. They're a great live band too, they carry the energy over well, and with such fine live and in studio company as C'Mon/ Ian Blurton, you know it's gotta be a chicken-fried rock masterpiece. Song of choice : I can't choose a song, they're all too good!!! "The Deeper I Go" is on right now and it's really good. So "The Deeper I Go" for the time being, but I bet as soon as the track switches over, "Paradise" will be my favourite. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere The Mark Inside website Published : June, 2005.