by Tracy FreyMixing wry, intelligent lyrics and erotic overtones with alternate tunings and distortion, Menthol creates its own version of loud punk pop. The band started out in 1991 in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., where the three band members, former Hum bassist Balthazar De Ley (vocals and guitar), Joel Spencer (bass and vocals) and Colin Koteles (drums), grew up. They recorded one full-length album and a 45 on Mud Records under the name Mother. A few years later, the band relocated to Chicago and signed with Capitol Records. After discovering that Mother was a common band name, the trio renamed themselves Menthol and put out an album of the same name in 1995.