Cupcakes

Cupcakes drummer Matt Walker was for a time in the frighteningly popular modern rock outfit the Smashing Pumpkins. However, no keyboard players ever expired in his hotel room, so his claim to fame may have to lie with Cupcakes. The chances of this are quite high with this self-titled debut. Twelve tunes that could fit into any kind of movie soundtrack seamlessly, with lyrics reflecting the trials and tribulations of modern living in the communication age. This CD ripples out in the wake of Radiohead's OK Computer, notably with Greg Surins vocals, and is a thick and hugely recorded rock with the odd electronic flourish. While there is absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with this disc, sitting there prettily dressed up with about seven layers of icing, listening to it is like diving into a turtle pool and my neck is really sore.