As a tuneless alt-hardcore album interspersed with occasional spurts of potential,
Tin Cans With Strings to You was a considerably wobbly debut. Frontman
Jonah Sonz Matranga yelped like
Billie Joe Armstrong and sometimes like
Concrete Blonde's
Johnette Napolitano, backing the
Coal Chamber-styled bass-steered songs into an impulsive if clichéd corner of sulky angst. Lyrically, the band tackled the usual subjects: Old Testament frustration ("Job's Eyes"), talk show culture ("Love, American Style"), and something about lemmings, plastic, Irish lullabies, and "a hella cool dude" ("Cut-Out"). ~ Dean Carlson