Purrs

The Purrs might be from Seattle but they seem determined to convince listeners they actually hail from the other side of Atlantic. With a sound that mixes equal parts Oasis and the Verve, for better or worse, it's like the mid-'90s all over again. There's really nothing wrong with Amused, Confused & More Bad News, their third album, but it has a nagging familiarity for anyone who made it through the glory days of Britpop. There's plenty of swagger and confidence on display on each and every song, yet there's hardly anything that ranks as memorable. It just all chugs along reliably without challenging either the listener or band. People say that there aren't any completely original ideas around anymore but that doesn't necessarily mean that bands like the Purrs should just give up trying. Even the tiniest bit of originality might have been what was needed to keep this interesting because as it is, the Purrs are about 15 years too late to the party.