North Hollywood Shoutout (Verve Forecast)
Over the past 20 years Blues Traveler made some good records; the first couple--Blues Traveler and Travelers & Thieves -- were even great. 1994's quintuple-platinum breakthrough Four was far less exciting but produced the Grammy-winning single "Run-Around" and made BT mainstream stars. On North Hollywood Shoutout
they're clearly chasing that same radio success, but instead deliver a
batch of bland adult contemporary snoozers. Even the trademark
harmonica of bandleader John Popper is buried in the mix, instead
electing to push thin, saccharine lyrics ("Love Does," "What Remains")
and piano-ballads ("Borrowed Time") to the front. There are sparse
moments of redemption, most of them coming when the tempo is kicked up
and the guitar allowed to growl ("How You Remember It"); and the funky
six minute disc-closer featuring a weird Bruce Willis monologue is
actually pretty damn good. Unfortunately there is little to be excited
about here, the band's only real hope being that maybe the paltry state
of popular radio might resonate with something inside.
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