Sr-71 Now You See Inside Lyrics

The missing link between 'N Sync and the Goo Goo Dolls, SR-71 purvey carefully wrought, radio-friendly rock-pop on this 11-cut debut. The boyish, relatively clean-cut quartet have the harmonies, slick production, and songs that smack of a manufactured "boy band," which, surprisingly, they're not. There's a slight edge to the polished songs and approach that make tracks like "Politically Correct" and "Right Now" palatable for alternative radio. As a whole, however, the album is more noteworthy for Gil Norton's (Foo Fighters) rich production and the band's strong vocal harmonies and melodic songs. Lyrically, SR-71 are trite and true--clever homilies delivered sincerely by lead vocalist/guitarist Mitch Allan and his cute compatriots. Ditto the generally impeccable songs, which, while catchy, are not as memorable as matchbox twenty's, nor as poignant as the aforementioned Goos. For a moment, on "What a Mess," as befits the desperate romantic entreaty of the tune's title, SR-71 hints at a Nine Inch Nails-style darkness before segueing into middle-of-the-road territory. Perhaps the band unwittingly sum themselves up in "Non-Toxic": "Not much to say on this nontoxic, ordinary day." Not from this nontoxic, ordinary band, anyway. --Katherine Turman