A little too safe

Reviewed April 2008

A bit like early U2 or, more recently, The Killers, in its combination of alt-rock edginess, arena-rock anthems and 1980s new romantic melodies, Siberian has synthesized a variety of hit-making formulas into an attractive package that has them a national recording contract and an accompanying tour.

Their debut from late last year has all the ingredients for success: luscious melodies, jangly guitar leads, a lead singer with an attractive voice.

But it all seems a bit too safe, a touch over-produced. There's little feeling of spontaneity to be found here. At some point, it would have been refreshing to have the band simply let loose on a track or two.

Review by Jim Trageser. Jim is a writer and editor living in Escondido, Calif., and was a contributor to the "Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD" (1993) and "The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Blues" (2005).