Hung up on The Coathangers

Sophomore album Scramble might result in mixed message.

By Nancy Dunham

In critics' school they teach us music journalist types that we understand tunes better than anyone else, even the artists that create them. But what to do when critics offer contrasting views? That's a quandary even the critic school overlords often can't reconcile.

Consider The Coathangers, who played nine shows at SXSW and have just released their second album Scramble. We posted the "Stop Stomp Stompin'" video and told you about the album and why we liked it a lot (but maybe didn't love it unconditionally...): Blurt.

Fader also posted the "Stop Stomp Stompin'" video debut Video with a short, yet positive, description and links to download the tune.

Yet Paste reports the sophomore disc isn't quite the caliber they expected from these grunge angels: Paste .

The solution? You! Put on your critic's hat, play the video or tune, and let us know what you think. If you wanna graduate, you gotta tell it like you hear it.

To borrow a quote from Juan Thompson -- the son of Gonzo Journalist/ultimate critic Hunter Thompson -- in response to reviews of his father's work:

"You will have to make up your own mind. He certainly did."