Review Summary: A great singer and a band the world didn't bother noticing.
One word usually comes to mind when considering super groups...'Underwhelming'.
The expectations that follow this type of band are almost unavoidable. Its even worse when the original bands have differing sounds, resulting in opposite fan bases, who both would be expecting this new band to have some reminiscence of the band they followed.
Medication included members from 'Soulfly', 'Machine head' and also the incredibly underrated front man of 'Ugly Kid Joe'. The original bands both played heavy rock, but that's the only thing they really had in common.
The tone and lyrical content of 'Ugly Kid Joe and 'Machine head' are worlds apart, especially comparing the breakthrough album by the former, to the whole catalog of the latter. What we end up getting is a band that's not as witty as 'Ugly Kid Joe', and not as heavy as 'Machine Head'.
Whit Crane is a charismatic front man, with a versatile voice with an impressive range. The songs on the album are for the most part fine, but its the singer that truly makes this album worth listening to. Most of the songs have a similar structure, the verses are usually simple, but almost every song has a catchy chorus. The choruses and the singing give 'Prince Valium' some replay value.
'Loaded Gun' is a great opener. One of the best tracks on the album. With an interesting intro, the song grabs you quickly and doesn't let go. The chorus is one of the best on the album also. The lyrical matter seem to be inspired from the grunge movement of the 90s, this sets the mood for the rest of the album. 'Nothing Left' follows and it continues where 'Loaded Gun' left of, although it is a bit more generic sounding than the opener.
'Something New' is another highlight, again the instrumental work is nothing to write home about but Crane's voice really shines here. The power he gives the chorus is truly impressive. 'Walk Away' is probably the most mainstream sounding track on the album, could have been a huge hit in the 90s. 'No Direction' is a fun track, but now the similar pattern of the songs really seem to hit the listener, once again a similar heavy intro leads into four verses followed once again by a chorus.
'Underground' and 'False Idol' fill the midpoint of the album, and they also represent the high point of the album. 'Underground' takes a different approach than most of the tracks on the album, starting like a ballad. The lyrics are probably the best on the album, containing powerful and sorrowful verses followed by a catchy chorus. 'False Idol' starts off with a good riff and leads into a blast of energy. The song also contains two choruses, both being instantly memorable.
Unfortunately the tracks that follow are a bit of a disappointment. 'Xanax' and 'Super Pop' represent the worst this album has to offer. We've already heard everything these songs have to offer, and this there isn't even a memorable chorus to fall back on. 'Now and Again' picks up the pace again, containing a good riff similar to the one on 'False Idol' and the verses are actually quite good, but the song is let down by a generic chorus.
The title track comes next, and is another highlight. It's definitely the darkest song on the album, and is contains constant changes of pace making for an interesting listen. 'Inside' closest the album, and its nothing we haven't heard before on this album. Crane seems to push himself a bit more on the final track, but it's still nothing special.
Medication were a band that never really got started, as can be seen from their 'fan base' on sputnikmusic. Saying that the only member really worth noticing is Whit Crane, who frankly deserves better.
