Most bands wear their influences like a badge, but Elastic Eight Track's is a technicolor dreamcoat.

"Fuel Efficient Vehicles," the band's rousing three-track EP self-released on Tortoise and Hare Records, shows promise of what could shape up to be one of the finest records ever put out by an East Lansing band.

In three songs, Elastic Eight Track - composed of MSU students - covers more diversity in music, melody and song writing than most bands get out of a whole LP.

The first track, "She Stars Tonight," is a honeycomb of translucent soaring melody picked up with a Smashing Pumpkins-esque charging chorus line.

Bassist Tony Evans holds down the whirlwind of guitars and atmospheric drumming with slow, sinking notes that give substance to the song.

The Arabian-tinged "Slave" is an easy favorite.

With roaring guitars, which sound like a mad caravan ride over the desert, Eric Stiegel (vocals/guitar) screams thunder. Valentin Narvaez (drums) thumps along at an incisive gallop that gets the blood pounding.

The song somewhat calls to mind the feeling of listening to the Dave Matthews song "The Last Stop."

It doesn't, however, have much in common musically with the song.

In fact, "Slave" doesn't have much in common with anything heard in the Top 40 these days except being terribly catchy.

The EP closes with the song "Go," a knock-down-the-wall, jump-up-and-kick-the-ceiling garage rock romp.

Stiegel's vocals call back Black Flag fame, Keith Morris era. This song could get even a 40-year-old dad in a mid-life crisis rocking out.

Elastic Eight Track does face some obstacles.

"Fuel Efficient Vehicles" seems to shoot for a live sound for lack of studio resourcefulness. Its EP, although not faring to bad for self-production, could use a professional's touch.

The raw sound idea, however, seems like a step in the right direction.

The ferocity making songs such as "Slave" and "Go" work could be undermined by a shined-up studio sound.

The boys of Elastic Eight Track need some guidance, but the music and writing are definitely present.

If you like this, you'll also like: Black Flag, Smashing Pumpkins, The Hives

Suggested listening: There is a song for making out, riding a caravan or punching a hole in the wall, you pick.

Pervious Albums: None

Where to find: e-mail requests to elastic_eight_track@hotmail.com.

Price: Free via download at www.msu.edu/~stiegele

Overall: ****

Flow: *****

Lyrics: ****

Music: *****

Replay Value: ***