Molly's Yes - Wonderworld

A shame this act never got off the ground on its major label debut at its time of release, as they would have beaten Hoobastank at its own formula (although in quick retrospect, that really is not a very high bar to clear) and probably deserved a sophomore try.

A kind of Maroon 5 pop sensibility with the anthemic bombast of a Big Country, this band has at least a trio of very listenable cuts: Frida Kahlo, Hypnotic and the centerpiece And She. There is also the very catchy and clearly geared for radio Fall Down, the moody but otherwise equally AOR 33 White Roses and the riff and chord romp of the title track.

While occasionally pretentious in a way clearly derived from the 80s influences they have in their pop-rock mix, lyrically they are slightly stronger, even when the production makes them too glossy for their own good. They had a above par vocalist in Ed Goggin and the band could clearly play well, but that production sterilizes some of the grit that the songs and the performances hint at (Pro-Tools is both a boon and a bane, no?).

This will still appeal to segments of the fanbases of U2, Foo Fighters, M5, Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul and even Cheap Trick.

Harmless but fun.