Ocean Colour Scene
Mechanical Wonder
Ark 21 Records
Grade: C
The UK-based band, Ocean Colour Scene, has a sound about 30 years too late - but that probably won't be a problem for its intended audience.
Most of the band's music falls into the genre of power ballads, with guitar accompaniment indicative of Carlos Santana. Other tracks are reminiscent of hippie-inspired music, such as that of The Mamas and The Papas or today's cult band, Phish.
This isn't East Coast rap, a boy band or even new-age techno music. This is easy-listening music simply intended for the office.
However, a majority of the songs are about self-wallowing and deprecation.
Two ballads, "Biggest Thing" and "Something for Me," fall nothing short of depressing. The piano accompaniment in "Biggest Thing" is good, but the instrumental music as a whole is far too subtle, allowing vocals to take center stage.
The song "Sail on my Boat" could be used as background music to a Greenpeace or PETA commercial. It's not a bad song, and will most likely be a hit with love-child listeners.
In another twist of styles, the song "Give Me a Letter" is a roadhouse, almost twangy track. It has a totally different background, with sounds of high-pitched keyboards borrowed directly from '60s band Strawberry Alarmclock.
Tambourines and cowbells even appear in several different tracks, backing up essentially solid vocals.
Mechanical Wonder is not a bad album; it's just simply not a sound similar to today's modern artists. Because the band plays it safe, there are no apparent flaws in the music.
Destined for adult-contemporary status, Ocean Colour Scene will win the hearts of die-hard fans of James Taylor or perhaps Tom Petty himself.
