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By JIM DUNCAN

For the past few years, the dynamic trio known as Sullen Teen has awed the South Bay. They single-handedly changed the face of San Jose indie rock with just three releases in the past two years. Their legendary performances were matched only by their outer fusion of rock and suburban angst. Unfortunately, Sullen Teen's newest release, Nonplused, is the biggest disappointment of the year since Carson and Love called it quits.

First of all, the album lacks continuity - the songs seem to be strewn together like a last minute garage sale of sound. It sounds more like a collection of B-sides: think R.E.M.'s Dead Letter Office, only bad. Next, the addition of keyboard player Sebastian Bort dilutes the straightforward energy of previous releases. Bort, formally of the Dave Frick Fuse Band and the short-lived Ham and Joe Trio, adds a cheesy synth-pop veneer to a previously hard rocking group. In general, the Teen seems to have lost its inherent sullenness. Instead of being jaded post-pubescents, the band has become boring young adults. None of their surly lyrics and attitude appears on this album leaving only generic indie rock ennui. Basically, there's nothing special about them anymore.

That, of course, is not the end of the story. Violent feuding with another local band, The Contrail, has tarnished the Teen's otherwise perfect reputation. The two bands have divided the San Jose indie world leaving the Teen shut out from many local venues. As a result, Sullen Teen will take a stab at putting their show on the road. The band has never performed outside of the bay area (besides unsuccessful attempts at concerts via cell phone and CBS). They kick off the tour in West Columbia, S.C. and wrap it up here in San Jose. Hopefully, a few months of live performances and tour anxiety will get these kids back to their post-modern pout-sullen-teen selves.

Jim Duncan takes no side on the Sullen Teen-Contrail war, preferring to save his energy for the Oreo vs. Hydrox debates.