Teenbeaters

This seven-song mini album from New York foursome the Teenbeaters is a slick, loud run at garage pop. The tunes seem only to hint at the high energy that the band must produce during their live performances, which have made them a local favourite of sorts. Surely there must be more to it then the standard antiseptic rec room sound that My Word, My Sky... captures. Not that there is anything particularly bad about the record. The singing is adequate, the guitar sound is crisp and the rhythm is steady, it just seems that what promises to be good songs end up petering out into pat relationship moaning and groaning. The New York edge is evident on some tunes, like the bouncy "Lotti Di," and still other tunes offer a few clever turns of phrases, such as "She's my Booth and I'm her Lincoln," but aside from the occasional bright spot, the songwriting seems to fall short. Perhaps the inclusion of a pseudo passionate rendition of the WKRP theme song at the end of the album is the most inspired thing that My Word, My Sky... has to offer. Unfortunately, the album as a whole is a little too Herb Tarlek and not enough Johnny Fever.