Something Like Human

Fuel

In Something Like Human, the moody and brutally emotional rock band Fuel has a solid follow-up to their platinum Sunburn disc from 1998. Produced by Ben Grosse (Filter, Vertical Horizon) and coproduced by Fuel guitarist-songwriter Carl Bell, Something Like Human picks up where Sunburn left off, both musically and emotionally. From Brett Scallions's heart-wrenching vocal performance on the CD's first single, "Hemorrhage (in My Hands)," with its mournful reflections to the "Shimmer"-like "Slow," the bleak, dark temperament that characterized Sunburn is continued. Even seemingly upbeat moments are buried deep in paranoia ("Knives") or leave a bitter taste ("Solace"). Not as dirge-heavy as Alice in Chains (though "Down" sounds like that band) or as commercially viable as Creed, Fuel nonetheless have the strong songs and melodies to make their doleful musical visions eminently memorable and quietly cool. --Katherine Turman

Something Like Human Album: