by Heather Phares
Clinic's long-awaited debut album Internal Wrangler fleshes out the sound the group crafted on their self-released EPs, and it also adds a few new twists. Though eerie, punk-tinged songs like &The Return of Evil Bill& and the title track sound like they could have appeared on the band's first singles, Internal Wrangler's best songs concentrate on the experimental yet accessible sides of Clinic's sound. &The Second Line&'s darkly catchy throb, the aptly named &2nd Foot Stomp&'s organ-driven pulse, and &Voodoo Wop&'s blend of surf and Krautrock are a logical progression from Clinic's roots, but ballads like the &Pale Blue Eyes&-esque &Distortions& and the late-night calm of &Goodnight Georgie& are a leap into new territory for the band. Though some of the thrashier songs like &C.Q.& and &T.K.& and a bottom-heavy song sequence detract from the album's flow, Internal Wrangler is still a strong debut from one of England's most promising and distinctive indie bands.