Tickle Me Pink: Madeline

The chorus to “Typical” — the first single from Colorado emo-rock outfit Tickle Me Pink’s debut Madeline — features the snide line “You can’t play me like that / It’s a matter of fact / You’re nothing more / Than a typical whore,” easily making this a frontrunner for being the most misogynist single of 2008. Perhaps if the group displayed a sense of humor or a knowing glance of irony, then this track could be interpreted as anything but hamfisted schoolboy frustration, but, unfortunately, Tickle Me Pink take themselves far too seriously, resulting in a painfully bland set of screamo-by-numbers tunes that overstay their welcome as soon as they arrive. Though acoustic ballad “Beside the Others” at least aims for heartfelt catharsis, its tired clichés (the opening line is “How could she be / With a wretch like me?”) knock down any hope of the band creating any sort of identity out of the Warped Tour mindset. Worst of all? The most intriguing aspect of the live concert DVD that accompanies this set turns out to be the moments when a security guard begins forcibly removing fans from the stage. At least there, the guard is displaying a real emotion: out and out frustration.