The Shackeltons probably aren't sincere in
crediting Arctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as their biggest influence, and
they certainly aren't discovering new musical terrain. A tight five-piece whose
proficiency allows integration of several satisfying Guitar Hero modes into single
songs—"Soft Heart" quickly flips an abrasive Fugazi-ish intro into
sub-Franz Ferdinand alt-disco—The Shackeltons mostly have problems with the
vocals. Mark Redding tends toward Jack White yelps, though he's occasionally
possessed by Conor Oberst's quaver and emo poetry. "The Blood" details how
Redding "found a rose… picked it up by the thorns and watched the blood run
down my fingertips." No excellent riffs can completely redeem that.
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