by Steve Huey

The members of Pulley spent more time together in the studio crafting their third album than any of their previous records, and it shows -- Pulley is their tightest, hardest-hitting album yet. There is little of the jokey, throwaway humor that popped up on their debut; nearly all the lyrics deal with the sort of inward-looking angst that punk-influenced bands like Husker Du and Nirvana popularized. Even if there can be a certain sameness to some of the melodic progressions, Pulley overall is a workmanlike effort from seasoned veterans who have learned how to work together and have been making this sort of music for a long time.