by Bill CasselLift was the follow-up to Sweet F.A., Love and Rockets' poorly received return to guitar-based rock, but is more closely related to their previous album, the electronica-oriented Hot Trip to Heaven. But where Hot Trip to Heaven, though flawed, boasted strong songwriting and an intriguing mix of electronics and old-fashioned instruments, Lift suffers from a dearth of good material and an overreliance on techno clichés. Ash, J, and Haskins were doing their best to change with the times, but it's telling that the highlights of this album either sound like outtakes from earlier Love and Rockets albums ("Pink Flamingo," "Delicious Ocean") or invoke the memory of Bauhaus. "Party's Not Over" is a haunting and grandiose lament that would not have sounded out of place on Burning From the Inside and "Resurrection Hex" samples the Bauhaus songs "Stigmata Martyr" and "In the Night." Approaching the turn of the century, Love and Rockets sounded like a spent creative force, their best moments far behind them.