The word indie gets tossed around too much - and even as I've typed that word herein, somewhere, I detest it. It doesn't make any sense. But that could take up an entire post in and of itself, so let it just be said that the following quote summons billows of bile from within:

"he approached it from an indie-rock perspective, in which, as he explains it, 'a less-schooled vocal can bring out different - and maybe more intimate - emotions.'"

The 'he' in that quote is in reference to the man behind General Elektriks - Hervé "RV" Salters. There are so many different issues to address in just those scant two lines, that I might need to retire to the john for a moment to contemplate the trite, yet all too common, problems related here. First, though, let me dismiss the music.

Hervé and his buddy's at Quannum Projects - whom I used to lust after in a hetero, record nerd kinda way  - are set to release the follow up to the 2005 Cliquety Kliq. In February of this year, Good City for Dreamers was released in Europe and Japan. But for whatever reason, the States get the delayed release date. Unfortunately, though, it kinda wouldn't matter if this never hit the streets. I rarely insert such venomous screeds into any reflection on a disc, but that's how the blood is flowing today. Even with this missive, though, the electronically contrived music on Dreamers has its moments.

In fact, there are actually good portions of each track here that could function as either a tasty rap track or some stripped down funk banger. It's as if Shuggie Otis has returned, replete with a bothersome voice and a computer. "Engine Kickin' In" might very well be a perfect slow burner if not for Hervé's troublesome singing. Again, though, that could be said for much of the disc.

The track the most struck me initially was "Cottons of Intertia," which immediately presented an image of oxy cottons in my mind. The beat is a bit more electronic sounding than on some other offerings here, but as the voice of Hervé kicks in, it all goes to pot. He apes some sort of nouveau jazz coolness, recalling Marco Benevento or some such other performer. The vocal issues presented throughout aren't gonna be rectified any time soon, so...

Again, referencing that quote up there, nothing can be rock if it's construed through silicon connections and mouse clicks. Sorry. The Stones would agree, even if those old dudes most likely have no ability to create new, worthwhile music any longer. But in approaching something like it's indie rock - which not only sounds preposterous, but uppity and obnoxious - seems to mean that who so ever is doing this approaching reviles the pure essence of one's discipline. And as for the "less schooled" vocal quip - have you heard of punk? Just wondering. I'm confident that thousands, if not millions of people figured that shit out like thirty years ago. Buy a new computer and maybe you can compress your voice into something that doesn't make me want to strangle Mickey Mouse.