Strangeways

Not bad, but not great power pop songs, sporting their fair share of dBs sheen on relatively straightforward radio-ready music. When there isn't a distinctive Bob Mound-as-Sugar thing going on (though these tracks lack the depth and edginess of that band's landmark efforts) Strangeways comes off as an alt-country tribute, patting Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt on their respective shoulders.

The four-piece, headed by former Omahan, now Seattlite Michael Jaworski, knows its '90s-era alt -- an era when alt rock still meant something good. And they hit it flat on the head, perhaps too flat, because there's nothing here all of us poor suckers who lived through it haven't heard before. Makes one wonder if a band that's so influenced by its influences could ever allow its own voice to emerge. Without something new to add, there's nothing here to hear except really good mimicry. I'll wait until Jaworski and Co. come up with their own thing. At least they got the influence-part down pat.

back to   Posted Sept. 22, 2002. Copyright © 2002 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.