Suspended

From No Doubt to the Murmurs, producer Matthew Wilder has often had great pop-rock instincts; if you want your pop-rock CD to be melodic, commercial and hook-filled, he is someone to consider. Because he tends to favor slicker, more commercial sounds, Wilder doesn't get high marks from most rock critics. Regardless, he's certainly musical, and his studio savvy has a way of making an album sound great. Wilder is a definite asset on Zoppi's Suspended, an alternative pop-rock effort that is quite different from No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom and the Murmurs' Blender. This CD isn't about catchy hooks or fun escapism — the band's lyrics are highly introspective, and it's evident that lead singer Bob Zoppi is more interested in depth than immediacy or giving the listener a quick fix. Wilder obviously isn't trying to turn Suspended into another Tragic Kingdom. Nonetheless, he makes sure that the album has plenty of production gloss to go with all that introspection. He sees to it that Suspended is highly musical; while you're absorbing Zoppi's intelligent lyrics, you're also admiring the attractive sound that this producer gives the album. Despite Wilder's input, Suspended is a bit uneven. Despite this release's imperfections, however, it's generally appealing and lets us know that Zoppi is a band of substance.