(Self-released, CD)

Burlington alt-rock vets The Magic is Gone are back with a fresh EP. Front man Colin Clary is leader of The Smittens and a prolific artist on his own. But where The Smittens specialize in sugary-sweet, sexually ambiguous pop and Clary’s solo work strays into doe-eyed singer-songwriter territory, TMG is his chance to rock. And rock he does, packing enough ringing guitars, chugging bass and thunderous drums into the record’s 18 minutes to create a numbing wave of sound. “Space, As Opposed to Light” kick-starts the record with a punchy riff and “do do do” chorus. “Don’t Sink Away” cruises along with a summery buzz reminiscent of groups such as The Lemonheads or Smudge. Likewise, “The Same Prescription” finds Clary and company — lead guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Joe Boo and drummer Tom Goodale — spinning through a cathartic cycle of chords. NOWEBCS is a nice little teaser for those waiting for the next Magic full-length

This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2004.

Ethan Covey was the Seven Days music editor from 2001 until 2004. He won the 2004 John D. Donoghue award for arts criticism from the Vermont Press Association.