Mighty Six Ninety’s Mistakes Like These EP is the band’s first release since their still young, full-length Cheers to the Bitter End that debuted this past summer on Invisible DJ Records. An expectedly stylish cover (Invisible DJ is associated with renowned fashion trend setters and retailers, Ron Herman and Fred Segal.) features surrealistically hued, oil-painting-textured, split-images. Separated by an elongated “I,” extending diagonally through the band’s name, a pair of foreshadowing figures adorns the album, one, fully formed with multicolored facial features, while the other, bald and monochromatic.
It is no surprise then that two notable icons turned-M690-fans, guitarist/DJ James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle) and bassist/producer Milo Decruz (The Weepies, Ryan Adams, Duncan Sheik) selected “Mistakes Like These” and crafted distinct interpretations of M690's single. The “James Iha Remix” includes nearly every aspect expected from a remix. Iha takes the song to a more vibrant sonar dimension, emphasizing the power of volume, amplifying the original effects, intensifying feedback and distortion, and augmenting the sound with layers of electronic beeps, whirs, and buzzes over an accelerating beat. Like the unadorned face on the cover, the “Milo Decruz Remix” swings the single into another direction, minimizing instrumentation and allowing Rich Gardner’s faultlessly pure voice to shine. Not quite a capella, this version preserves Camille Driscoll’s echoing keyboards, looping them throughout, bits and pieces of a shuffling beat, ringing guitars by Jeremy Castillo, and high-pitched tones, decorating a variation on the vocal harmonies. 
M690's most recent creation “Out of Hand” continues this low key vibe with an ominous introduction and Patrick Taylor’s sinister bass drone that pervades the track. The melancholy mood prevails even as the pace escalates with drummer Reade Pryor’s consistently catchy style. Without overwhelming the melodies and sincere lyrics, M690 add tasteful touches of reverberation and murmuring subtleties. Such a successful sample of Mighty Six Ninety’s direction leaves audiences with anticipation of upcoming endeavors. As the EP concludes with the original “Mistakes Like These,” the track, by holding its own among the reworkings, demonstrates why Iha and Decruz were first attracted to this magnetic song.
So, what is the EP’s biggest blunder? Simply not enough new music to satisfy eager listeners. That said, the Mistakes Like These EP presents just enough enticement and insight to project that Mighty Six Ninety are headed toward another polished record, and let's hope, a flawless future. The EP is available on iTunes, at RonHerman.com, Fred Segal shops, and other indie music stores, while www.myspace.com/mightysixninetymusic provides band and tour information, photos, press, and music sampling.
