The Lift: It Is What It Is

Los Angeles band The Lift expects fans to be uplifted by this record. But the album’s rather routine feel during “No Secret” doesn’t have much bite or verve to it; while a tight pop song, it’s nothing that would make you break out into a wide smile. The dance-rock feeling of the title track won’t cause elation either nor does the murky but stale feeling of “Warmth”. In fact, the latter track is somewhat cold. The first song that shows some promise is the indie-rock ditty “Mask”, which is driven by a great bass line á la The Cure. Unfortunately, the album is what it is, and generally isn’t all that hot. “Heliopolis” seems to stand out among the record’s second half, but compared to what is presented, it’s not all that stellar a tune. Perhaps the highlight is the above-average “For the Broken Hearted”.