Tuesday September 11, 2001

Lost Together

(J Bird Records)

Grade:

D-

Happy little guitar hooks populate this album like a forest of Bob Ross trees. The Rembrandts' senior effort after a three-year hiatus - Lost Together- is just that - lost somewhere between popified de-twanged country, and the Eagles on a bad day.

In a press release, band members Phil Solem and Danny Wilde each said they knew they couldn't stay apart forever. Bob Ross knew enough to stay on public broadcast stations; maybe these guys should have stayed in their respective basements. A longer pause from music-making might have helped them come up with some good material.

The duo, which is best known for its contribution to TV land with the famous "Friends" theme song, should have stuck to TV anthems. There are a lot of vague musical quotes on this album, with sources ranging from the Everly brothers to the Beatles (a stretch). Misquoting Pink Floyd only adds to the mismatch of genres and influences on this album; on "One of Us" the duo quips "too late, I spoke too soon I'm on the dark side of your moon." These passages are thrown together with a watered-down rock sensibility, in a sloppy effort to make it on the Top 40 - all the while creating a dizzying feel of disconnection.

Lost Together is a shiny, overly polished attempt to be radio ready at every turn. The Rembrandts epitomize the sing-along-ability so valued by so many. Either strong vocals or guitar talent need to take over at some point on this album. As it stands, they flatline and neither really shine. Isn't there already enough formula rock out there? Does the world really need a grown-up boy band? Bob Ross would be proud.