Pop Filter

Overflowing with one meaty pop/rock riff after another, this Canadian quartet is capable of inducing one three-minute party after another, judging by "Afterthought." Sugarcoated harmonies and snug rhythms fit each track to a tee. Lead singer Andrew MacNeill leads the "la la" chorus in "Lite Brite," while the guitar solos fall in line with fellow Canadian rock group Starling. Smart lyrics without being to highbrow are another asset the Whereabouts toy with. Numbers such as "Spirulina" bring luminaries like Paul Westerberg circa 14 Songs to the fore. Sullen tunes, particularly "File 13," miss the mark by creating a series of false tension-builders before wallowing in relaxation. The record's first side has several seeds for great songs, but not all are brought to fruition. "Telekinetic Breakdown" consists of heavy guitars and a pulsating beats yet finishes sinfully too early. Reggae-rock beats on "Burnt By the Sun" and the No Doubt-like "Holiday Inn" are rather disappointing also. Thankfully, the group returns to form on "I'll Take You With Me," which resembles a latter-day Psychedelic Furs arrangement. By far, the track which stands apart from the others is the happy-go-lucky melody on "Without You," which is akin to Rubyhorse and also Def Leppard to a lesser extent. Nearing the homestretch on a Brit rock high note with an Oasis-like run through "Touch the Ground," the group never sounds better. This record is one or two miscues short of excellent.