The Shackeltons: The Shackeltons

The Shackeltons probably aren't sincere in

crediting Arctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as their biggest influence, and

they certainly aren't discovering new musical terrain. A tight five-piece whose

proficiency allows integration of several satisfying Guitar Hero modes into single

songs—"Soft Heart" quickly flips an abrasive Fugazi-ish intro into

sub-Franz Ferdinand alt-disco—The Shackeltons mostly have problems with the

vocals. Mark Redding tends toward Jack White yelps, though he's occasionally

possessed by Conor Oberst's quaver and emo poetry. "The Blood" details how

Redding "found a rose… picked it up by the thorns and watched the blood run

down my fingertips." No excellent riffs can completely redeem that.