2 out of 5

Label: Atlantic

Producer: Michael Vail Blum

I like that when a band rather drastically shifts styles at some point in their career, if we don’t want to criticize, we call it “evolution” or “growth.”  In listening to RK’s albums chronologically, it’s possible that they switched back to a more rock/grunge/punk-infused thing post this album, but Third Eye is just this harmless little piece of pop that you can only recognize as the band because of the name.  Some repeated listens and digging display some of the group’s playfulness – the style does admittedly jump around from pop, to Beatles-y ballads, to skittery bits like ‘Shonen Knife,’ but the i-don’t-care attitude that allowed for intense messes of songs or the poppy grunge that would emerge on Neutrotica seems to be fully replaced by the early 90s pseudo-hippie mentality…  Steve MacDonald’s lyrics were never super serious or angst-ridden, but the light touch of cute that was there before has slipped in to full on “baby baby” repetition and a song called “Bubblegum Factory.”  Is it catchy?  For sure, at moments.  And there’s totally a wealth of experience bubbling beneath the surface – every track has a couple surprising moments in how it breaks down, or an off-kilter layer that’s hiding just behind the sunshine that reminds you of why these weren’t radio singles, but mixed with that late 80s tinny guitar sound, I just feel like all the energy has gone.  I haven’t really been tuned in to Redd Kross, but up to this recording I’ve appreciated the sense of ‘oomph’ they brought to the table, and how that informed some interesting stretches of the rock / punk genre.  Third Eye does nothing, though, except for sound pretty polished.  Again, I want to make it clear that it’s not a horrible album, and fans of pop from this era will probably appreciate the overall happy sound and clean recording.  But is it “evolution?”  I dunno.  To me, it just sounds like an entirely different band.