author: Kevin Miller
If you were to mix the psychedelic structure of Soul Coughing with early Radiohead and run the guitar through a fuzzbox, you’ve got the idea of the general sound Used Alien Mind creates. Some tracks – “Kid Mental” and “Open Your Eyes Space Cadet” — have a loose indie rock-punk sound, while other tracks — “The Dirtbombs” and “Pale White Face” — are much more spacey and tranquil. The big disappointment here is that this project is all multitracked by a single person, Mike LePorte, so currently there is no chance of seeing Used Alien Mind play as a band. The upside is that this guy can compose a strong album on his own, handling the production and mixing. Also, he has a creative vision and determination to bring this project to life. Doors will open if he can find a few other people to join his quest and really unleash this high-energy monster. This album would play well on college rock radio stations and serves as good background party music. Not quite a masterpiece, but definitely worth a listen and a project to keep your eyes on.
-- Kevin Miller -- Art Scene Iowa magazine
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author: DAC
I love hearing albums that take me by surprise. Who would imagine that an album by a band called Used Alien Mind would be as original and hokey-free as this? Sure, the influences on Positive Mental Theme run deep, but Used Alien Mind's Mike Leporte is able to maintain a unique perspective. Tracks like "Kid Mental" and "The Dirtbombs" reek of The Stooges -- they start slow but quickly jump with raw energy. Both tracks are among the album's best, and "Mental"'s stereotypical jaded loner lyrics ("Try so hard to be normal / All I get is the kid is mental") are innocent enough to be taken lightly. Several songs venture into shoegazer territory -- Jason Pierce is obviously an influence -- but Used Alien Mind's songs aren't accessible enough to compete.
Leporte's throwback mixture of old and new mostly works in his favor, however. The guitars are never overly blaring, and most of the music is lo-fi enough to attract discerning indie listeners. Perhaps on its next venture, Used Alien Mind might think about a proper producer -- the results could be outstanding.
(DAC)--Space City Rock
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author: the listener
There's some terrific moments on this CD, and none better than the opening track "Kid Mental", a bracing open-throated blast to give Brother JT a run for his money. And there's the dynamic slinkiness of "Inside", the ethereal psych-wanderings of "Postcards From Outer Space" and the Velvetsy "Machine Gun Love". If there's any problem it's in the lyrics which occasionally hit the mark but too often ramble off nowhere in particular and become a bit exposed by Mike Laporte's determination to keep singing long after the lyric has got a bit thin. The churning, moody backing tracks he sets up are often the best thing happening and maybe he should trust them to carry the song a little more when the lyrical inspiration runs dry. But overall this is good stuff and if the samples sound like something you might like then you probably will.
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author: culture bunker e-zine
“Imagine having some really crazy hallucinogenic weekend with a space entity. You’d need some quality music, wouldn’t you, and Used Alien Mind’s Positive Mental Theme is the prescription. Throughout the fifteen songs, UAM’s Mike Leporte takes the listener into dark corners, sunlit playrooms, and interstellar journeys. Blanketing the songs in a 60s fuzz guitar and laying in programmed drums that emulate the droning momentum of Spiritualized, UAM aim for the third eye. This is music for headtripping.” – Culture Bunker
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