Secret Machines Ten Silver Drops. Release Date : April 25, 2006. Label: Reprise/Wea. Rating: Great. (Screw points. To each his own!) Holy crap I love the Secret Machines. One minute into the first track proves that. This is a far different sound (so far) than we are accustomed to. Instead of the massive thunking drums, we have a flowing, gentle tune, soft vocals, sweet harmonies, inidentifiable strains, watery piano. Near the end of the song though it shimmies up to that big drum swift sound. Who knows where this album could go from here! I have to point out I find the album artwork endearing yet boring. Not that that has much to do with the music or anything. Silver foil is nice but... what? Anyhow - filled to the brim with manic noises, in a mess of sounds that I might be inclined to call "industrial lite," Secret Machines powers over dime-a-dozen electro-modern bands with sheer guts. Everything's overboard, rock excess. It's gorgeous. Not quite as hard-hitting an album as their debut effort but a more.. mature record I suppose. A wider range in sounds, more deeply emotional. I need love / that don't mean I need you. Song of choice : "Lightning Blue Eyes for sure." fantastic melody. Oh wait, "Daddy's In The Doldrums" is also awesome. Low and groovy, dark club drug haze. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Secret Machines website Published : January, 2007.