Space Needle: The Moray Eels Eat The Space Needle

Long Island's Space Needle received a good deal of acclaim for its first album, a solid ambient guitar work recorded for next to nothing on a four-track. Now the budget has gone up, but the quality, lamentably, has not. The Moray Eels Eat The Space Needle is a pretty dull hybrid of space-rock and punk, the high point of which is clever song titles like "Where The Fucks My Wallet" and "Hot For Krishna." "Old Spice," a track that hearkens back to Eno circa Here Come The Warm Jets, is the only song here that bears repeat listenings. Otherwise, the album's dissonance is forced, and its prog-rock sound is too reminiscent of Yes to plead ironic distance. Chalk it up to sophomore slump and wait for the next album.