The ever-evolving band Plankeye, whose members are always changing, returns with ten high quality tunes written and played with sincerity. Although the latest version of the group plays tightly, strumming each chord with accuracy and striking each drum beat with authority, Strange Exchange suffers from sound-a-like syndrome in which no track stands out as a heavy hitting anthem or future classic. The band has matured since its raw sounding Spill and The Spark albums, and has even lightened its sound load since its Commonwealth days. Not until 1997's One & Only album, the last with singer Scott Silletta, did the band adopt a less alternative edged style to take hold of a straight and narrow rock and roll beat. Even after the band was reduced to the duo of Eric Balmer and Luis Garcia, it maintained a mild sound on Relocation, and was able to prove successful with a mixture of radio friendly rock/pop masterpieces, along with a few melancholy ballads. Come 2001 Plankeye, enhanced with new members Kevin Poush on guitar and Louie Ruiz on drums, attempting to do the same, but seems to regurgitate the identical sounds on the new disc. Hard hitting tunes like "This Is," "The Meaning of it All," and "Chemicals and Sleep" seem to be near carbon copies of each other, while "Keep on Walking" and "Remind" both start off on the mild side, only to pick up the pace towards the end. "The Way of the Earth" is a mostly acoustic guitar driven track that conjures up images of "Break My Fall," from Relocation, while the 90-second filler "My Wife" also leans on the lite side. Plankeye always has housed a talented troupe of songwriters and musicians, but unfortunately this latest incarnation seems to rely on a limited amount of experimentation to make up the majority of Strange Exchange.
Other coverage for this album
ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by David O.You can tell when a band is being dishonest with you. The songs on the record may be well written, but for some reason you have no desire to listen to it. Instead, you find yourself reaching deep into your record collection for R.E.O. Speedwagon albums to remind you what it was like when music meant something. Strange Exchange finds Plankeye in an identity crisis. This is not entirely a bad…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Travis Persaud"Strange Exchange" is Plankeye's sixth full-length album. This is their second release after their original singer left the band. With this album, it seems that the new Plankeye has finally found the sound they were looking for. I was somewhat disappointed with their last album "Relocation," just because it was such a drastic change so soon. I thought it was a decent album, but it seemed as if…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Michial FarmerThe more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that I've been underrating Plankeye's last album, Relocation. It doesn't sound forced--the songs come out of honest emotion, and with the personnel changes the band suffered, they had plenty. So, for the last couple of months, I've had a really good feeling about Strange Exchange--I was expecting a masterpiece. Does the album deliver? Not exactly.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Kerry MaffeoAfter a year of re-invention and life experiences, Plankeye responds to those experiences and invention with their answer: Strange Exchange. This new collection of maturity-inspired works incorporates the talent of new members as well as the musical contributions of Eric Balmer's wife, Beth. This newest offering brings out the best in the band. The album opens with the invigorating "This Is," a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Glenn McCartyLittle remains of the Plankeye who were among the earlier modern rock bands to reach the Christian music mainstream with albums like The Spark and Commonwealth. Last year's Relocation proved an apropos title, moving band leaders Luis Garcia and Eric Balmer on to more progressive, modern rock territory, achieving an admirable sound and doing the almost impossible: resurrecting an established band…Similar sounding releases
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