Big Time Rush - BTR
Big Time Rush are yet another band taken from an American TV show and thrust into the limelight.
What this usually results in is an album that fans of the show will adore, but offer little in terms of substance.
This is exactly what you get with BTR, the band's first album.
Single 'Boyfriend' is a safe, by-the-numbers pop track that heavily relies on over-production and autotone.
The album follows a very clichéd style, both lyrically and with the synth-led instrumentation.
It seems to attempt an edge with a power-pop style perfected by real pop-punk acts like All Time Low, but falls short of any real bite.
This, to be fair, is exactly what it needs to do to be a success.
It will sell, and Big Time Rush will continue to be big stars, because these songs are perfect copies of what feels relevent and current.
Obviously, BTR would fail if the band couldn't sing, and whilst it's not breathtaking, they carry the melodies fine.
Whilst some songs work, 'Worldwide' in particular stands out for the wrong reasons, a painful attempt at an emotional love ballad.
The vocals are good enough, but the lyrics just make this a bit embarrassing.
Meanwhile, 'Big Night' is a solid effort at a club track that could be a, no pun intended, big hit for the quartet.
From here, the album does strengthen and at least feel consistent, with some big dance anthems carrying the majority of BTR.
The main compliment that can be given to BTR is that, as an album, it establishes early on what it seeks to be, and does it well enough to ensure this will be a hit with its target audience.
However, as a credible piece of music on its own merit, BTR falls a bit flat by virtue of its repetitive, slightly clichéd, nature.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Tagged in Big Time Rush