by Heather Phares

At 17 tracks, the group's expansive follow-up, Forever Again, could be considered too long to hold attention, but Eric's Trip's power to soothe and seethe at the same time remains captivating. Tracks like "New Love" confirm that the band's sound is a study in contradictions: It's instantly catchy, but it sounds like it was recorded on an answering machine; it's punk rock, but it's dreamy, too. The sound effects on the album -- a rainy day and a busy street -- heighten the album's entrancing mood.