San Antonio rock quartet
Blowing Trees bid for arena rock status on their self-titled debut album. The band likes to emerge from a sonic wash (and disappear into one at the end, too), and during the tracks proper, they play within a highly polished production sheen resulting in a big, full sound. Lead guitarist
Edwin Jered Stephens, clearly taking his influence from
U2's
the Edge, sets up pulsing, swirling patterns, over which
Chris Maddin sings in a keening tenor somewhat reminiscent of
Cheap Trick's
Robin Zander (or a less nasally
Perry Farrell). The lyrics are de-emphasized in favor of the overall sound (and printed in miniscule size over artwork that partially blocks them out in the CD booklet), which is fine since they seem, if earnest, also clichéd. More musical substance may be required to get
Blowing Trees to the next level, although what probably matters more is their live show and willingness to tour. On their debut, they come off as ambitious and already possessed of a style that is both familiar and their own.