Milk in rock ‘n’ roll Cheerios still diluted

Safari

Maybe Tomorrow

Unsigned

Rocks Like: That cover band you and your… Safari

Maybe Tomorrow

Unsigned

Rocks Like: That cover band you and your friends started in eighth grade

Grade: D-

Ohio-based Safari’s third album Maybe Tomorrow was supposedly made in response to the “Kool-Aid drinkers and posers diluting the milk in your rock ‘n’ roll cheerios,” according to the group’s MySpace page. And, while the band’s whopping 22-minute-long EP definitely wants to have an effect on our collective rock ‘n’ roll breakfast cereal, it falls tremendously short.

The CD’s opener, “Connie Gets What She Wants,” starts off relatively familiar — guitar riffs reminiscent of some alternative rock song that you swear you’ve heard. It leads any unsuspecting listener to expect somewhat pleasurable listening. Then, something strange happens — you hear lead singer Nico Walker do what sounds like a Neapolitan of famous lead singer impersonations, making it almost impossible to understand any of the lyrics.

Sadly, the incomprehensibility of most of the lyrics is a plus for the album. Aside from consisting of a relatively small scope of words, Walker’s songwriting is full of a certain sense of self-importance. In his own statement, he describes his songwriting as “at once brash and melodic, lacerating and sweet.” When listening to songs like “Texas” or “Banger,” where phrases are literally repeated over and over again, it’s easy to wonder where the self-proclaimed “melody” exists.

In essence, Safari is just another one of those bands that considers itself “the hardest working band in the business” without actually doing anything very original. Its new album consists of hackneyed song structure, pedestrian lyrics and borrowed vocals.