We played this album for one reason and only one reason: In looking over the liner notes, we noticed the song In a Dream "contains replayed elements from Not Fragile," a BTO thud-rocker from the '70s. Turned out that familiar, heavy-handed chorus riff wasn't the only selling point on this Seattle foursome's debut full-length. Fronted by former Meices singer-guitarist Joe Reineke, ACS traffics in a Cheap Trickish brand of shimmering, smartypants pop that's several notches above the norm -- and vastly different than the spooky, synth-laden rave fare you'd expect given their name. In fact, if the band has one fault, it's the whole overdone space theme, which extends from band name to CD art to song titles like Take Me To Your Leader, Outerspace, Atmosphere and Earthgirls are Cool. Never mind the gimmicks, boys -- any band that openly mine BTO for pop hooks is already cool enough for us.

Track Listing 1.Take Me To Your Leader
  02.Land We Made Up
  03.Supergirl
  04.When I Get Home
  05.Outerspace
  06.Always Running
  07.Trippin' Up To The Clouds
  08.In A Dream
  09.Atmosphere
  10.Another Time
  11.Everything Around
  12.Earthgirls Are Cool
  13.Revolving