My first impression was that this album kind of sounds like if Bon Jovi did punk rock, but in a bad way. There was something about the early tracks in particular that just felt like they lacked an edge, especially the opener, which has a bit of a Beatles vibe, yet I found it to be incredibly forgettable. The album picks up a bit around the third song, We're Comin' Out, which brings some much needed energy. High speed guitar riffs litter tracks like this across the album, and they're at least entertaining and technically impressive, if a touch cliche. From this song onward the album feels like a collage of punk rock, hair rock, and soft rock, though the band does not skirt the line between these sounds nearly as well as Pixies did, whom I feel were a big influence on this band's sound. There are some interesting ideas thrown around. Unsatisfied is a very classic 80s stadium rock sounding ballad, though the vocals bring some surprising vulnerability to the track. Seen Your Video is an interesting instrumental song that plays with the band's sound, while closer Answering Machine cuts out the percussion and features just the vocalist and the guitar working together. I appreciate the band experimenting and attempting to leave their comfort zone on these kinds of songs. I also need to highlight Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out, a song about, well, getting your tonsils out. This song kind of defines the album in my mind. On one hand, it's charming and funny and playful, it feels like it should work, but on the other hand, it also feels like it's trying very hard to be something it's not. I admire it for being quaint, but it ultimately feels like a gimmick, and it doesn't hold your attention much after it's done. By far the best track though is song 5, Androgynous. A part of me can't believe a song about gender politics snuck its way onto an album like this way back in 1984, though perhaps that says more about how far we've regressed in the current era. Still, the band is exploring ideas that could actually be considered taboo, and they're actually taking a stance on something. It gives the band some much needed edge and identity. The weird stilted piano gives the track an oddness that matches the theme of a gender bending couple who don't quite fit in to our expected norms, but the catchiness and warmness makes the track feel wholesome and harmless, which matches the message of the song. It's easily the track I wanted to return to the most. It kind of reminded me of something Lou Reed would hum and tap his foot to. There are shining moments on this album, but altogether it feels like a band desperately trying to find their identity. The album is at its best when it feels like they're being earnest and exploring topics of personal interest to them (Unsatisfied, Androgynous), but too often it feels like the band is trying to emulate other acts that did it better. There's a push and pull between them watering their sound down for more mainstream appeal, and them going full punk to grasp at what I assume is their roots. It's not a bad album, but it's just bland. There's a lot of effort on display, but it can't hide a like of authenticity.
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