That's right folks, the first ever Double Time Feel EXCLUSIVE!. Nowhere else on the int0rw3bs can you get the inside scoop on this record, one that will undoubtedly be turning heads in 2007. Go ahead, tell all of your friends to come listen to their new favorite Chicago band, Mt St Helens.

Mt St Helens are no strangers to Chicago, having played their first show at the sort-of-defunct-but-not-really Fireside Bowl (feel free to follow along using the awesome timeline on their site). In the 9 1/2 years since that show, the band has released a few 7''s and 2 outstanding LPs (check out Ontime Always on Arborvitae Records and You Are A Ghostly Presence on Divot Records). Their sound has evolved over time and has incorporated elements familiar to the post-punk movement, yet they stand above their peers in their ability to uniquely venture out on their own.

Of Others will be released on August 31 at the Beat Kitchen on the up and coming Two Thumbs Down Records (run by Steve Reidell of May or May Not, and 1/2 of the Hood Internet phenomenon). Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive the record, which should be rolling off the presses as I write. If you have seen Mt St Helens live over the past year or so, you have undoubtedly heard most, if not all of these songs already. Upon first listen from beginning to end, it didn't take long to conclude that the band put great effort into this release, and you can hear it resonate throughout the record. I have always regarded Mt St Helens to be the most criminally underrated band in Chicago, and Of Others should be the record to help them shed such an undeserving label.

The record begins with 'Time of Low Volume', where an effected guitar loop gives way to a 3/4 time beat that provides a solid foundation for the rest of the track. There are a few transitions throughout the song that exemplify the band's maturing knack for songwriting. The record moves directly into 'Want Out', perhaps the band's most pop-driven song to date. Similar to predecessors such as Jawbox or Unwound, Mt St Helens have added their two cents to the book on 'angular' hooks, and 'Want Out' showcases the notion that pop-oriented jams do not necessarily equate to uninspiring, radio-friendly drivel (as any seasoned punk rocker would tell you).

'Omission' is one of my favorite tracks on the record, and it begins with an unassuming, repetitive guitar line, and then the rhythm section drops in to really get the song moving. Bassist Jason Sprague sounds as if he's plugged in to a power transformer at ComEd, reminiscent of the ominous, pulsing hum of electricity moving across power lines of some barren industrial complex. Its an effect that is scattered throughout the record and achieves some truly dark overtones. Peter Hook, eat your heart out.

The middle of the record, in my humble opinon, really showcases the talent of drummer Ben Geier. Those who are familiar with the Mt St Helens catalog know that the drumming reaches some critically intense levels. While I am always one to appreciate the intricacies of drumming, this is more about what Geier doesn't say with his percussive prowess. In the case of this record, he knows exactly when to make a statement and when to let the song breathe. Look no further than 'City Of', where Geier's presence moves the song along at a methodically evil tempo.

The guitar duo of Quinn Goodwillie and Mike Sprague make their presence known throughout the record, and showcase their skills in opportune moments. Also thrown into the mix on this record is ex-guitarist-but-I'm-back-again, Matt Fast (also of Rollo Tomasi). Fast adds another dimension to the band in a time where the 3 guitar player lineup has all but been abandoned, but there is enough going on in these songs to make it all work flawlessly. The ascending/descending line in 'Strange Navigation' makes the hair on the back of neck stand on end every time I hear it, and it seamlessly moves back into the main theme of the song. They show flashes of guitar wizardry without being wanky, which demonstrates attention to the composition rather than ego. Another album highlight is 'Centicorn', a Jesus Lizard-esque song about a 100-horned unicorn (the band is not lacking in the sense of humor department, either). Equally as impressive are the vocals of Goodwillie on this record, which really stand out on this record above all previous releases.

The record ends with the brilliant 'Interruption', a song that I debated adding as an mp3 to the track listing below, but I'll save it so that you can buy the record for yourself and decide. The song represents the culmination of everything that makes this record one that you should not be without when it is released, and why Mt St Helens will not be flying under the radar for long.

here is the track list for Of Others:
1) Time of Low Volume
2) Want Out (myspace)
3) Omission (* doubletimefeel.com exclusive track!)
4) Massive Dosage (courtesy of Two Thumbs Down Records)
5) Seething is Believing
6) The Drink (myspace)
7) City Of
8) Strange Navigation
9) Centicorn
10) Interruption