Shimmer's self-titled debut album could be immediately mistaken for the safe and secure funk-cum-rock soul sound of
Maroon 5,
Remy Shand or
Gavin DeGraw, especially on the friendly and somewhat infectious "Don't Trip on Your Way Out." Lead singer and guitarist Skip Peri crafts these songs to go over well on radio judging by the big and relatively meaty guitar riffs on the chorus. It's a track that
Joss Stone would nail perfectly. They fare better on the slightly edgier "Here I Am (Antidote)" with enough mustered soul to deliver the number strongly as female harmonies round things out smoothly. There's a groove on "Needle to the Vinyl," which brings to mind
the Police's "Roxanne" with its reggae-tinged rock hue. The album includes many of these safe, sexy radio-friendly songs but there is very little bite or distinction in each track. One high moment comes in the simpler, more refined and sultry "Sweet Love," which falls in line with soul acts like
Jacksoul. The conclusion is too abrupt, however, with no real fade to properly exit. "Crazy but True" plays it close to the sleeve although by now
Shimmer has basically honed this style to an almost boring perfection. The real gem is the funkier and looser, party-like feel during "Like a Feather," veering as it does in the direction of
Macy Gray. "Wicked" is a complete waste of time though, with a rudimentary guitar riff that goes nowhere and the deep breathing effect coming up very short. "Shoulda Known" atones for this with a great mix of rock, soul and a pinch of blues that a group like
Wide Mouth Mason has built its reputation on. "Who Loves Ya" is pure
Maroon 5 as
Shimmer rocks out a lot here. On the whole,
Shimmer often shine but there isn't anything outstanding to separate them from the glut of soul-driven rock acts.