You just can't keep a good doom-and-gloomer down. In a career that began with the white-light, white-heat explosion of Psychocandy back in '85, the Reid Brothers--singer Jim and guitarist William) have rarely allowed any rays of sunlight to disrupt their rainy feedback parade. Until Munki, that is. Label-less for a couple of years, the Reids reassessed their situation with the self-financed Munki and saw that life, at least for the time being, was good. Trips back to childhood, reflections on the joys of rock 'n' roll, analysis of the optimistic reasons they made Psychocandy in the first place--it's all here on the relatively upbeat Munki. Shocking, but fun. --Tom Lanham