Todd Carey: Watching Waiting

Todd Carey
Watching Waiting
Todd Carey Music
2007-03-27

There are some albums you have a bad hunch about for some reason, and sadly so many times your gut is correct. I’m sure Todd Carey is a great guy, but songs such as “Ain’t Got Love” have that safe, radio-friendly quality that are enjoyable for driving, but you won’t recall the song moments later. Carey’s pop rock comes off as being telegraphed a la Gavin DeGraw and Jason Mraz for “Back Off Baby”, which has a nice melody but again isn’t too memorable. Nor is “Friday Night”, with its softer, soulful side. There are a few bright spots on the record, including the title track, which has a gravitas as Carey slowly but steadily brings the song to life, resembling a slow power ballad by the likes of Goo Goo Dolls. Also above average is “King of Cliché”. But songs such as “Elaine” have been done a zillion and nine times in the last number of years, leaning more towards filler than anything of grade-A goodness. It’s a song perfect for twentysomething patio parties, as is the safe “Falling from Grace” and the somewhat tedious “Photograph”, which is about, you guessed it, an old photograph. The homestretch contains more of the same, with only “Ride the Wave” rising above the rest.

RATING 5 / 10