1. Just Like God - What the heck is this? What a way to begin "Transistor"! With a song almost completely out on another limb from the rest of the song. Heavy alternative influences abound, especially in the vocal tracks and over distorted guitar. Its not a 'bad' song, just not what is expected, and thankfully the whole album is not like this one tune.
2. Wide Awake - Gorgeous vocals, melody packed chorus, well layered verses, supporting acoustic weaving around in the background for added depth, yep, everything you'd expect from TNT. And just listen to the way Harnell belts out the two words "Wiiiide awake"... isnt that just fantastic? Oh yes I thought so. "Wide Awake" is a midpaced rock track, that would have been right at home on "Realized Fantasies", and the first of the sing-a-long tunes.
3. No Such Thing - The second sing-a-long song, this is just one of those that you can't help but belting out each verse right along with Tony. Deliciously rhythm guitar driven, it drives straightforward at a mid tempo rockin pace riding on the strength of that addictive riff that supports the singer. I love the way it 'revs up' right before the chorus.
4. Crashing Down - An overly modern influenced song, this one still has enough going for it to keep it interesting, including some very clever lyrics that are sure to hit home and make you think for a second. Exchanging between 'alterna-whine' vocals and straight up Harnell fare, which strangely compliment each other and a nice TNT-ish melody is buried in there somewhere, just takes a little longer to pick it out and find it than some of the other tunes. "Some of my friends had it worse, some were better off than me, hard to say who's more fucked up, its a strange reality".
5. Fantasia Espanolia - A delicate and beautiful piece of music. This is as gentle as Harnell gets, with a sugary sweet vocal performance with a regretfully sorrowful feel along the edges. The music takes advantage of the lyrical content and theme of the song by using various Spanish influences, especially in the acoustic guitar work. The relaxed acoustic solo blends in with the low key pace of the song, which is only broken up for a minute by winding up to a peak with Tony soaring and some electric sprinkled in. "She's still lovin me, in my fantasy.."
6. Because I Love You - One of the most addicting rockin tracks on this album, "Because I Love You" has everything you love from TNT. A *great* melody, super vocals, fantastic sing to the music chorus, and the kind of axework fans of the band come to expect. If you can sit still through this TNT killer, there is something seriously wrong with you. Quickly climbing to be one of my all-time TNT favorites!
7. The Whole Your Inn - Modern edged 'heavy' TNT tune. This one is gritty till the chorus which weaves around quite nicely. Harnell's metal growl is almost amusing, considering the high flying vocal acrobatics he's capable of, but he pulls it off well, and with the song's distorted heavy riffing, it fits in perfectly with the mood of the song, and allows it to stand on its own.
8. Mousetrap - This has to be the catchiest song in TNT history. Totally riff driven, it drives right on through with spectacular vocals, rich, pure and grabbing from the first verse. The lyrics are just *so* clever, backed up by a rhythm and a killer chorus to match. From the first moment I heard this frantic compact little tune, I was in love, and it hasn't worn off yet, a few hundred listens later. The solo, even in its shortness, is just perfect for the rest of the song. "Mousetrap" feels so good to listen to it should almost be a crime, my absolute favorite.
9. Into Pieces - This song is too distorted and too 'alternative' for my tastes, very slight hip hop kind of rhythm, before breaking into the alternative sounding thing, even the vocals are a bit dragged out and just not to my liking. Its not terrible, but considering the tunes that come before it, it just doesn't measure up.
10. Under My Pillow - Stripped back and emotional ballad, its almost acoustic enough to have fit on the Morning Wood album (Tony's acousic project, 1993). The sound of "Pillow" is nearly completely acoustic with vocals, with Tony's cousin doing some backing vocals, her soft pretty voice compliments the rest of the song, given another very strong melody by riding on the vocal prowess of the lead singer. Such gorgeous vocal harmonies and lapping acoustic, along with the sorrowful lyrics, give the song a delicate impression, until it kicks up well over halfway through, with drums and some distorted guitar, for about 50 seconds, until fade, and then the song takes back over as it begins to finish the circle. Close to brilliance.
11. No Guarantees - Don't particularly like this song either. Pass it off as being alternative, with gritty vocals and guitar and ick, it just doesn't sound like TNT. A poor way to end the album, they could have left this one off completely and no one would have complained.