Feeding the need for soaring rock

Feeder is an odd band. After all, its soaring, post-Pumpkins, sorta-heavy rock sounds very American but is actually made by a British trio.\nDrummer Mark Richardson, formerly of Skunk Anansie, has replaced Jon Lee, who committed suicide in January 2002. Clearly, this has affected frontman Grant Nicholas' songwriting more than the actual drumming. On Comfort in Sound, Nicholas fights with his emotions at times, but whether its his British reserve or a major label dictum to smooth out the lyrics to make all listeners identify with them, one gets the feeling he still might be holding back.\nNicholas does write above-average melodies, but years of cynicism make it sound banal anyway. This is reminiscent of, though inferior to, Dredg's El Cielo, a somewhat more clear, far more focused song cycle of almost operatic art-rock.\nNicholas co-produces the record along with Gil Norton, known for adding credibly weird sounds to major-label pop-rock records. Just listen to the Pixies' Doolittle or the Foo Fighters' The Colour and the Shape. Feeder throws in keyboards and strings to create the same effect, but it all just sounds melodramatic.\nSpurred by oddity and tragedy, Feeder wants to sound reformed. They need to try a little harder.