Just from the opening track "Nobody Taught Us To Quit", I can't hear anything they're doing here that Ted Leo & The Pharmacists don't have covered. Between every vocal being speak/sung and the similar peppy tempo, it's difficult to tell most of the songs apart. Never thought I was dependent on a pop vocal, but without a melody to get my attention, all there is to support the songs are some meat and potatoes chord changes that may as well be the Hold Steady or Tom Petty - and at least they sing. "Keep Your Eyes Closed"**** has some heavy accents which create some hooks of a sort, and to be fair, "The Digital Kid" has a refreshing Shins poppiness, and clean guitar-driven "A Temporary Fix" builds satisfyingly from a chimey ballad to a feedback-drenched soundscape before giving way to a nice descending lick. They actually save the best for last with short and sweet "Two Lives At The End Of The Night"****, opened with a beautifully melodic guitar line, reminiscent of a hook John Mellencamp would use at his best. But these memorable moments suggest the variation that most of the album lacks, and keeps a slew of otherwise rocking tunes from being memorable.
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