by Jonathan Lewis
Sneaker Pimps followed the debut success of Becoming X with the different, yet strangely familiar, Splinter. Kelli Dayton, whose haunting vocals made songs like &Spin Spin Sugar& and &6 Underground& so evocative, is no longer with the group. While this takes the listener a few moments to re-adjust -- Dayton's voice was, after all, what made Sneaker Pimps so accessible -- this album is still worth the effort. Splinter is a superb disc, full of trancey, edgy psychedelia, interspersed with moments of blistering rock. The new vocalist, Chris Corner, is not nearly as good a singer as Dayton, although his breathy -- and at times whiney -- vocals suit these songs well. Although the comparisons with Portishead, Massive Attack, and Garbage are inevitable, the Sneaker Pimps have created an intricate album of trip-hop that is every bit as original as any of their contemporaries. While Splinter may not have the standout singles that Becoming X had, it's pleasantly low-key and occasionally brilliant.