The Dream Is Over

Distorto-pop group cut an expectedly dark and dramatic slice of life.

San Francisco's MK Ultra have made yet another dramatic pop move with their third release, The Dream Is Over. Tempering John Vanderslice's cracked-actor persona with a decidedly sharp edge both musically and lyrically, the band strive to entertain us right up to the point where they stick in the knife. "Goodbye, Max!" is a scathing anti-choice seranade that's as tuneful as it is unforgiving, while "All We Have" is an everyday tale of dour self abuse.

MK Ultra's music is a group effort that embellishes Vanderslice's often unsettling observations. John Tyner's economical guitar style is both direct and articulate while Matt Torrey's keyboards flesh out the song arrangements with subtle intelligence. While the band can, and do, rock out sporadically, the careful craftmanship of their distorted-pop communiques is what merits special attention. Here the talented Adam Cohen sits in on both chamberlin and mellotron, helping to make The Dream Is Over a rousing gloomfest. It's a very human effort from a very sophisticated bunch.

Mitch Meyers