Though they may wear their collective neo-grunge heart on a cardigan sleeve, Alta May infuse their music with a vitality and passion that easily dismisses claims that the genre is old or stagnating. Be it because of the band's talent, or because so little has been done in the genre in recent years, We As In Us goes beyond being just another grunge album; it's the sort of thing you put on when you feel like rocking out. "We As In Us", for example, is a hard, driving rock song -- a melodic cacophony which, in the true spirit of '91, can't really lay claim to being about anything. Elsewhere, "8", which boasts a powerful, grinding bassline, is the sound of a studio's recording devices being ripped to shreds -- but in a catchy way.

At times, however, We As In Us makes clear that Alta May's influences go beyond well-worn copies of Bleach. "Icepick", its spoken word vocal layered over a harsh guitar lead, recalls Henry Rollins, while "Moving Target" sounds, oddly enough, like Alta May secretly wants to be Kiss (presumably minus the glitter and facepaint).

It's often said that the best bands don't sound dated ten or twenty years after they're done performing. Given that Alta May are performing a style of music that hit its creative and commercial peak ten years ago, it's hard to tell whether such a judgment even applies to them -- which means that their music needs to be looked at solely in the context of the present. After listening to We As In Us several times, I can say one thing for certain: if the genre remains fresh and vibrant, it will be because of bands like Alta May. -- Matthew Pollesel


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