Oval Opus

When a tree falls in the forest... you know the rest of the question... Similarly, Cincinnati, Ohio natives Oval Opus released their self titled fourth studio album this past January.

Having shared the stage with Maroon 5, and sound-alike group O.A.R., this Miami University alum group have courted stardom for some time and apparently share many of the same musical ideals as the previously mentioned groups. There's a basic rock sensibility to their music that's very similar to O.A.R.'s, and vocalist Aaron Patrick sounds like a cross between Adam Levine and Marc Roberge, in the best ways possible.

I want very much to love this band. They have a sound that makes a room brighter, much like that close friend of yours that you like to have around to lighten up your day when you need. Most of the tracks on this disc are fun, bright, and are tightly performed, not a result of over-production, but obviously a result of years of developing musical symbiosis.

Now here's the other shoe. Although Patrick has better than decent vocal chops, his delivery much of the time is stilted and overly purposeful, almost like he's still too used to singing to small crowds in college bars. The problem with that is he's writing (along with contributors Jill Cunniff, Danny Kortchner...) and singing music that's verging on arena level power no doubt supported and/or egged on by their new producer Erwin Musper (Def Leppard, David Bowie, Bon Jovi), but he's not swinging for the rafters.

There are few differences between what makes Bon Jovi successful, and what would have kept him touring Jersey and the tri-state area on the fringe of stardom these past twenty years. They're almost intangible, but they're always recognizable. I can't say for certain why these guys don't totally do it for me, I just know they don't which is a shame, because I'm almost certain I'd have an outstanding time at one of their live shows. So from here on out I'm going to stick to what works, because these guys deserve a review of sunny benevolence, as opposed to knocking guys that have their hearts and sensibilities in the right places.

The vocals are more impressive on "Sunday Paper", with ellipses showing up here that would have been great were they to be more regularly employed throughout the rest of the album. "First Kids Names" is another track on which Patrick hits his heartfelt groove, and the band's vocal collaboration works so much better in his favor I'm left wondering why this is more a novelty than a regularity. The rest of the band is more present singing 70's style Doobie Brothers backup vocals, and instrumentally the rhythm section and guitar strumming is spot on inspiring grooving at its best.

In general there is a lot that's good about this disc, and if you go to their website and see that they're in your area anytime soon, I would recommend getting off your couch for the night and going to their show as there's no way you wouldn't have a good time. They're not going to be my all time faves, but I'd definitely like to hang out with them for a night or so.