Review Summary: You have to put in at least some effort. Otherwise, the result is following...
I don't know what it is about these rock groups that try so hard to please mainstream audiences these days. Releasing a commercial radio rock record is one thing, but completely abandoning your roots just to get played on pop stations... I mean, whatever, but if that's your goal, you have to do it right. You have to put in at least some effort. Otherwise, the result is following...
Theory of a Deadman's...sorry, THEORY's new record is a perfect example of that. Not only have they left their electric guitars at home, the music is for the most part generic digital fluff that we've heard a billion times before. There is no edge or even relatable factor anymore, and the album doesn't so much flow as it just goes on and on.
I will admit right away that I LOVE Theory of a Deadman. Their past records contain some of my favorite music ever. And that's exactly why "Wake Up Call" frustrates me so much. In spite of all negative criticisms, Theory can do and did better than this. Don't get me wrong, I don't really hate this CD, there is nothing here really to hate, it's just that it possesses so little interesting stuff that it's really... kind of depressing.
"Rx" and "Wake Up Call" are easily the highlights of the record. The former has acoustic guitar looped over and it talks about addiction to prescription drugs, which is more of a serious subject that band hasn't touched in the past. It ain't really a poetic majesty, but the wistle and progression carries this song with a good rhythm and at least they tried to do something different with lyrics. The title track has a nice touch of acoustic guitar in the verses and it gets louder in the chorus. I really dig the lyrics here and Tyler Connolly doesn't sound bad at all. If the rest of the record was like these 2 songs it could've worked, but...
"Straight Jacket" is certianly passable with some funny lyrics, but there is no real hook nor any edge to the instrumentation. Staccato piano notes get irritating from the first listen, and the song goes literally nowhere. That is the other problem with rest of the songs. So many of them lack a hook, or memorable guitar part, or really any replay factor.
After "Wake Up Call" (which is only the 4th song btw) it just becomes absolutely boring. Sure, it is not grating or annoying, but the songs literally bleed into each other and are completely indistinguishable. "Loner" is probably a slight highlight from that half, and their touch on "Wicked Game" is okay, but tracks like "PCH", " Po Mouth", or "Time Machine" are so bland that even the most substanceless parts of "The Truth Is..." find themselves laughing at it. There is no real punch or any real instruments really. Some acoustic guitar parts here and there are to be found, but the bass is virtually non-existent, drums sound like they were made with FL studio and Tyler Connolly has never sounded this bored before.
So overall, this is just...middle-of-the-road album. While the first half sounds decent enough, even pretty good at times, the second half especially offers no substance, and there is no Theory of a Deadman identity to be found. I certianly hope the next record will see them being back to their post-grungy roots, cause I don't wanna hear another pandering pop CD from one of my favs
