SoCal band spending too much time surfing

"Outta My Way"; The Flys; Trauma Records.

Some bands are after fame and fortune. Others are peopled by passionate musicians who care only for their art. The Flys are members of a third category - they're in it for the flexible schedule. Being in a band gives this Hollywood-based group more time for surfing and parties.

"The vibe of the record is about a true surfer's lifestyle," says vocalist Adam Paskowitz at the band's Web site. Consequently, some of the album feels thrown together and lazy, while other tracks flare with sparks of originality.

"Outta My Way" won't have the impact of The Flys' debut release, whose hit single "Got You Where I Want You" garnered attention from the MTV crowd for its sweet, guitar-heavy, romantic sound. Plus, last time around, the band got the rock-rap hybrid thing down pat, riding the Korn, Limp Bizkit phenomenon in its prime. However, it's two years later, and The Flys are riding well past the crest of the wave.

After one listen to the first song, "No Sad Story," you know what you're in for. Paskowitz sings in his uniquely hollow-sounding voice that he doesn't know what it's like to be you, but he wouldn't mind hearing your sad story. There's a slight whiff of sarcasm, but mainly the song is indicative of the blatant surfer-lite innocence of this band - solid and unspectacular. Other tracks don't make it that far - "Losin' It" has standard chords and cheesy lyrics. Ditto for "Damn" and "Helluva Time." The tracks are boringly derivative and oddly British-sounding despite their California-based surfer themes. (The group pays homage to the Beach Boys in the liner notes.)

The most promising track, "Pakistani Man Says," showcases funky drums that have an airy groove. Paskowitz's vocals finally get their proper swerve on and the whole thing sounds very much like the early-era Red Hot Chili Peppers. This is what The Flys are capable of doing but fail to do on the rest of the album. If only they'd come in from the beach and spent some more time in the studio.

"U.S. Crush"; U.S. Crush; Immortal Records/ Virgin Records.

U.S. Crush's self-titled debut album rattles with energy and sings with slickly stylized tracks. Problem is there's nothing altogether inspiring or interesting behind all that adrenaline.

If the tracks fail to impress, it's not for lack of effort. These 14 songs are well thought out and constructed. "Jimmy Crack Rock" has a catchy hook, pseudo-thoughtful lyrics and rolling-thunder type drums that any respectable rocker would appreciate.

The band's at its best when it sticks to simple punk-style guitar and a basic one-dimensional sound, as it does in "Debutante." It's the kind of music you'd put on midevening at a bar to get people psyched up, but hardly the kind from which artists are born.

Lyrically, the group is far ahead of The Flys, who are, in turn, musically ahead of U.S. Crush, though the kids from Crush would dispute all comparisons. In one of their more interesting songs, "Destroy," lyricist Denny Lake screams "I wanna destroy indie rock snobs." This could mean music reviewers, or it could mean hybrid rock/rap bands, or both. The reverse scorn is palpable, but we indie rock snobs aren't too offended.

(c) Copley News Service

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Author: Emily Friedlander