In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the four members of Sloan listen and learn, reflecting and refracting, working out ways to improve on the cool records they're hearing. Smeared, the debut from this post-alternative chop shop, marries Nirvana's thrash bottom to twinky harmony vocals, puts My Bloody Valentine on a budget with a beat, drops the art ballast from Sonic Youth, uncovers the soft underbelly of Dinosaur Jr and takes sixteen years off Cheap Trick. While running down a college-radio playlist of ingredients, Smeared transcends mere style scavenging through the band's guileless enthusiasm. On this album, Sloan's catchy tunes and witty post-adolescent lyrics collate into a winning personality that sounds anything but calculated.

On "Underwhelmed," Sloan manages to add Hollies-quality harmonies to Cobain-strength guitar rock and keep it from sounding precious. With guest vocalist Jennifer Pierce and a buzzing breeze of guitar distortion invoking an Anglo-dream-pop aura, "I Am the Cancer" handily pulls off a tricky chord progression while cutely deconstructing romance. Likewise, the supremely catchy "Sugartune" compresses years of power-pop tradition into a modern spitball of unbridled fun without letting it go all gummy. And while the instrumental track of "500 Up" strongly suggests Daydream Nation, the handsomely interwoven harmonies point the song toward chipper jangle pop.

As happened with the white blues bands of the late Sixties, the textures and sources of underground rock are threatening to become the music's essence – too many groups have the style but don't bother much about content. Armed with all the right moves and material well worth cranking, Sloan may very well be the Cream of the crop. (RS 654)

IRA ROBBINS