By Spencer Young

Mute MathMute MathTeleprompt RecordsThree out of five stars (one for the heads-up)

It’s always convenient when the band you’re listening to provides self-criticism in its songs-especially when it’s blatant and fitting. After a brief atmospheric-rock intro, Mute Math quickly sets the record straight on its self-titled release by repeatedly confessing (read: shouting), “I’m the typical. I’m just the typi-C-A-L!” Awesome?In this spacey, popcorn anthem (called-gasp!-“Typical”), these four guys-who look more like hair stylists than musicians-end with an honest and integral question regarding, not only this self-titled album, Mute Math, but their future as musicians/stylists/racketeers: “Can I break the spell of the typical?”With sounds that border too closely to The Helio Sequence, U2 and-yes, I hate to say it-Nickelback, Mute Math has a lot of ground to cover in order to obtain the unusual. The album cover hosts more than 20 different instruments (mystery, dual-dial synth included?), which might have helped “break the spell;” however, it sounds as though only eight made it to the recording studio. The other dozen or so must be for show-and-tell.There are several other one-liners that can be pulled from these songs that appropriately peg this album, but the best is when lead singer Paul Meany howls in his histrionic, wall-papery vocals: “Life is short?we can do without it.” With all the mediocrity in music, it’s important to listen to Mute Math on this one-that is, listen to its wisdom, not its music. If a band is honest enough to tell you-or if you can interpret it this way-that it’s not worth the time, then pay heed. Just think: If self-diagnosis were to catch on and everyone were to state his or her disposition and agenda at the get-go, we could all save loads of energy and time. I know I’ll be saving an hour of my life every time I DON’T listen to Mute Math. Thanks again, guys. You’ve been an invaluable asset. Good luck breaking that spell.