If you were asked to describe the sounds on High Society in a couple words, you probably couldn’t do it. Would you focus on the fuzz-grunge, indie-rock of “Old Dominion” or the slack, indie-pop of “Leave it To Rust?” How about the eerie, industrial, “Native Numb” or the wacky, bluesy “Pleasure and Privilege?” And when singer/guitarist John Schmersal passes the vocal duties to bassist Toko Yasuda, Enon gets more difficult to pin down. With her nasal, airy vocals over a trippy, club beat, “In This City” sounds as if the Sneaker Pimps have returned with original singer Kelli Dayton. Her other lead performances are less sultry and favor quirky, electro-synth grooves. While the electronic element recurs most often in this genre-surfing journey, it’s not enough to declare it any kind of common thread. High Society defies categorization, while it challenges you to find a song unworthy of your attention.

- Dave Powers
(As posted 6/6/02 on 3wk.com)