the ranting grind-core of "Spawn Again" and the punk thrash of "Satin Sheets"; the stadium-ready heavy metal of the first single, "Anthem for the Year 2000"; the lavish orchestration of "Emotion Sickness,'' which includes David Helfgott (the schizophrenic classical pianist who inspired the film Shine) on keyboards. Some songs work, such as the silvery power ballad "Ana's Song (Open Fire)." Others, like "Black Tangled Heart" (think "Black Hole Sun" meets "Heart-Shaped Box"), with its turgid, midtempo Weltschmerz, are just a bad fit. All in all, Neon Ballroom is about what you'd expect from a young band going through its awkward stage. (RS 808)

NEVA CHONIN