Ok, so this review has been a long time coming. I first heard the Gas Giants at the age of fourteen...august 7th, 2000, actually. it was my first concert ever, and from that day i on i knew i wanted to be in rock n roll. the show was great, the band put on a very tight performance.

Here's some history about the band...after MTV darlings the Gin Blossoms broke up in 1997, their singer/guitarist Robin Wilson went to Arizona with the intent of forming a new band. After recruiting Daniel Kenzerling on additional guitar and Phillip Rhodes on drums, Wilson formed the Gas Giants. Two bassists were featured on the album: John Hampton and Chris Wildmer, but Mickey Ferrel was the bassist who toured with the band.

From Beyond the Back Burner is a very solid rock n roll album...the pace slows only occasionally (such as "Who's Side are you On?"), but it is a controlled emotional cool-down...not the great dragging epic muddles the Gin Blossoms were prone to (mind you, the Gin Blossoms had seven people in it). The Gin Blossoms were also sometimes considered as emotionally one dimensional, that dimension being depressed...not so with the Gas Giants. They have their depressive moments ,"Letter" being an example. however, most songs on the album deal with serious themes without coming off as pompous or cliche (like "I hope my kids like Marilyn Manson" and the rabble rousing: "Circus of Stars.") Wilson has always been a good lyricist, and he really shines on this album.

This album is a great example of what mainstream rock n roll tries to be, but fails so miserably at. True, From Beyond doesn't break much new ground, but it manages not to be too cliche, too arrogant, or too stupid. The guitar solos are not too long, they actually have guitar solos, and they have good harmonies and pop production. They're loud and heavy enough (not so jangly as the Blossoms) to appease the rocker in you, but not so extreme that someone with more mainstream taste can't enjoy it too.

The Gas Giants - From Beyond the Back Burner

Grade: B+

Label: Mayberry Defense Dynamics, AP0002-2

See Also: http://www.geocities.com/gasgiantsbetweentwoworlds/gasgiantshome.html and www.allmusic.com