North Hollywood Shooutout Verve Forecaste

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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