TWEAKER 2 A.M WAKEUP CALL ALBUM IMUSIC RELEASE: APRIL 19, 2004 REVIEW: AUGUST 17, 2004

Chris Vrenna is the man behind Tweaker, and he was also one of the founding members of Nine Inch Nails. Tweaker is in the spotlight both by having this album out and by making the "Doom III" theme song.
“2 a.m. Wakeup Call” is Vrenna's second solo album, and I must admit I haven’t heard the first one, but this effort is a very refined trip hop/metal/electronica album. A nighttime record, according to Chris himself.
Some pretty illustrious guests can be found on here, such as Johnny Marr and Robert Smith. Smith’s track “Truth Is” is a sleazy, sexy, groovy number and Marr’s “The House I Grew up in” is an emotion laden instrumental with tingling guitars. Those are two of my favourite tracks, together with “It’s Still Happening” with vocals by Hamilton Leithauser.
The main problem with this collection of songs is that not many of them are memorable, rather they just “exist”. Vrenna sure is skilled at producing and tweaking knobs as it were, but he’s not a songwriter. However, I think it’s sort of meant to be that way. Music to listen to at night isn’t about catchy melodies. It’s about mood, and there’s plenty of that here. Fantastic artwork too.

JOHAN CARLSSON