The Makers" latest is a marked musical improvement over past releases, but that amateurish, completely out-of-control sound that made their first records so amazing is sorely missing. They"re still as gritty and punk as they can be, but not in the way they once were. This is perhaps their most listenable record, but as far as sound quality it"s almost too listenable. Still, they play like demons, and the energy that explodes in every track compensates for the "cleaned-up" recording courtesy Tim Kerr and Conrad Uno. --Adem Tepedelen