After
one listen, I’d have to say “Magnetic” is a massive step up over the band’s
most recent effort, 2010’s mostly unremarkable and unmemorable “Something for
the Rest of Us.” It’s a peppier, catchier effort and one that I could see
myself putting on in the background without feeling the urge to hover closely
to the skip button.
It’s
not perfect. It’s still prone to some of the same problems that plagued “Something
for the Rest of Us,” and prior to that “Let Love In.” There are too many love
songs, some clunky lyrics here and there, and lead singer Johnny Rzeznik hits
the occasional flat note.
Also, at 11-tracks and under 40
minutes, it doesn’t quite feel substantial enough.
Honestly
though, I’m so attached to the 90’s alt rock sound the Goos perfected on their
earlier albums that sometimes it’s hard for me to accept their transformation into a
contemporary pop rock band.
