Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Already toted as "the best new modern/alternative rock band to emerge from the San Diego scene" and if you knew how many thousands of guitar toting young hopefuls crowd that circuit, that's no light claim. Certainly the Cloud Merchants offer virile*, turbulent rock with plenty of discernable influences (Echo & The Bunnymen, the Alarm) but with an unusual vocalist (one Michael Van Eik) and some hard hitting songs still make an impact. Lyrics, like the bulk of those Christian bands pitching at alternative rock clubgoers, Club Merchants hint at spiritual answers rather than spell them out, while I'm not particularly keen on the retro pop rock of "1000 Ways" or the gloomy balladry of "Comfort Me". But on the full tilt guitar rock of the opener "Shout Out Loud" the impact is considerable.

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