Shortcut to Newark

The strategy almost worked. By plying their liner notes with pictures of themselves wearing trendy rock t-shirts (Sonic Youth and Morrissey) Shortcut to Newark seemed like a promising band until I actually heard their music. Sounding like a wimpier Ataris or if David Cassidy started a punk rock band in his old age, the band is a bland combination of conventions. Their four-song EP, Heads in Hands, Hearts in Half, never once sounds like the band really cares. As they hide behind proven licks and campfire chord changes, each song sinks into the murk of a solidly sub-par album.