Anyone with an iTunes account has likely seen the name SafetySuit pop up repetitively over the past few weeks, as the purveyor of mobile music has been pushing the band’s newest album, “These Times,” like crazy.
But like just about every other overhyped entity in the universe, “These Times” falls far short of its expectations.
While most of the instrumentals on the album are passable, if a little too loud at times, the problem really lies in the lyrics. Lacking depth and dripping with platitudes, like on the title track and the whiny “Staring At It,” the words plainly spell everything out for the listener. This tactic may work in some country-music songs, but with a band like SafetySuit, it results in a piece even Justin Bieber would reject.
Case in point: “Never Stop,” a superficially agreeable tune, boasting a cushy guitar, which becomes completely hackneyed when one actually listens to the words, as in, “I will never stop holding your hand / I will never stop opening your door.” Gee, way to keep the mystery alive.
To be fair, the album has a few hopeful moments, like on the surprisingly bluegrass-y “Things To Say,” the pared-down “Life in the Pain” and the catchy dance-inspired “Let Go.” The overall appeal of these songs, however, isn’t enough of a penance for the rest of the sugar-coated pop the band is obviously trying to pass off as hipster hymns.
All the band proves with this offering is that it’s a pop fiend’s version of Thirty Seconds to Mars minus Jared Leto, which we all know is the only redeeming part of that band to begin with.
Sure, “These Times” isn’t entirely unpleasant to the ear. But it’s a complete mockery of the intellect. It might be befitting for a person looking for something very vanilla and unoffending to play as background music at a kids’ party, but that’s only if said person can get past the embarrassingly absurd band name.
Rating: W 1/2
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