All these years of playing colleges must've taken their toll.

 From being a modern version of Teenage Head - with attitude and loud, proud, delightfully obnoxious music to match - the Headstones appear to have turned into some self-conscious angst-ridden alternative rock band. This must be part of the awkward growth phase that all bands experience. Frankly, I preferred Teenage Head.

 Those who love this Canadian rock quartet for rebellious "rawk'' anthems like Cemetery might listen to the wan pop song Blonde & Blue, say, and exclaim, "Who the hell are you guys and what have you done with Hugh Dillon?!"

 Save for a few notable exceptions, Nickels For Your Nightmares is a sprawling mass of unfocused experiments and vaguely worded sentiments. Dillon sounds curiously distant at times, as if he's sneering through the motions. It doesn't help that his vocals are sometimes overpowered by Trent Carr's ripsaw guitar - though that may be by design. To bewildering effect, Dillon channels Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and even Tom Waits in the bizarre closing track.

 There are highlights. Sure to get fans cheering along, #$%!! You is one of the most direct breakup songs ever made, and the name-dropping Above Ground Swimming Pool takes a poke at boringly sober rock stars.

 There's a harsh message in there somewhere.

Track Listing 1. Downtown
  2. Settle
  3. Blonde And Blue
  4. Pathetic Pair
  5. Congratulations
  6. Above Ground Swimming Pools