Racoon: Another Day

Hailing from Dutchland, er, Holland, Racoon offers up a series of tunes that are okay but that’s about it. Whether it’s a roots-y, pedestrian-paced tune like “Happy Family”, which brings the Hothouse Flowers or The Levellers to mind, or the lightweight “Love You More”, Racoon are nice. Great? Well, no, but I’m sure they’re nice guys. None of these songs pack a great amount of punch or verve, instead they are decent singer-songwriter tunes that a performer like Howie Day or Jason Mraz would appreciate and maybe admire. This is also true of “Brother” with its somber yet earnest feel of heartbreak. A great leap would be comparing them to Crowded House or Neil Finn on “Laugh About It”, but there’s little of the nuances or hooks that Mr. Finn can deliver in his sleep. The band’s goal is to get to America and conquer, and while they might do that, the overall feel is of a band that still has a bit to learn. The first real highlight is “Couple Of Guys” with its roots pop charm while “Lose Another Day” is also quite pleasing.