| Show f Rooneys Rooney's new album The heart is missing J Julianna Clay Arts Reporter The old cliche is the third times time's the charm chann but that's not for Rooney and their third album Eureka out last week After two successful albums with and well-received well singles like Im and and When WIlen Did Your Heart Go Missing the retro-pop retro band named after the principal in Ferris Buller s s D Day y Of Off OJ had its own change of heart moving to own independent label California Dreaming I Records I However if youre you're p I expecting a strong I statement prepare to be i disappointed Eureka is not the ode to old- old fashioned independence the band would like you to believe The album starts out well enough with catchy but weightless pop rockers Holding On and I Can Cant t Get Enough The outstanding production is similar to the previous albums w with th electric guitars supplemented by bya a robust horn section Rooney has always drawn their inspiration from hooky leg legendary vintage bands like The Cars and The Beatles but it seems like their muses where in short supply this time While the previous f r J- J J Y albums were masterful collaborations that demonstrated their skill in both song construction and acoustics Eureka Eureka's s s main claim to fame is its it's traditional non-traditional but classic style of recording Perhaps bringing the production and engineering inhouse inhouse inhouse in- in house to their own label didn't leave the band with enough time to concentrate on the song writing The band regresses lyrically on this effort with meaningless rhymes like I like lik what you wear I like how you move If I was staring its it's because Im I'm in the mood on the track ICan I 7 ICan Can Cant t Get Enough Bob Dylan and Bruce changed the lyricism many pop generations ago but these guys still write as if She Loves You You was as developed as pop poetry needs to be Musically the few stabs at creativity come off as dangerously hollow The Hunch Hunchis is an attempt at an experimentally peppy sound but the staccato vocals and random instrumental flourishes come off as almost cacophonous if not completely heavy- heavy handed There are a few strong moments among the bunch with All or 01 or Nothing and I 1 Dont Don't Y Want to Lose You recalling past glories of their titled self-titled effort and follow up Calling The World However those are the highlights and they're simply not very high There is simply a noticeable absence of memorable hooks impassioned vocals and catchy lyrics Overall the album is a solid tribute to a California summer something to listen to while lounging around the pool or driving with the top down to the beach But that is all it is Eureka is mediocre and even lackluster and upon closer inspection the listeners listener's enthusiasm will quickly dwindle Leave this one resigned to the bargain bin or whatever passes as the bargain bin in the age and steal the albums that Rooney hopes to emulate from your parents' parents record collection Calling Rooney fans and critics alike want to know when your heart went missing To form fonn your own opinion watch Rooney perform at Urban Lounge June 28 or visit their at v J J t |
