Neve's self-titled debut album introduces the group with a baker's dozen of anthemic, energetic yet bland alt-pop songs that sound like the result of a gene-splicing experiment between
Third Eye Blind and
Matchbox Twenty. Earnest, melodic numbers like "Skyfall," "Motor," "Six Feet Under," and the unfortunately titled "Same Old Story" are virtually identical to each other, though they're interrupted by earnest, melodic ballads such as "Absent" and "Drift." Even when Neve rocks out a bit on "Freeform" and "Anything," it doesn't break the stranglehold of their earnest, melodic monotony. A safe, pleasant listen,
Neve doesn't do anything to embarrass the band, but it doesn't do anything to distinguish them, either. ~ Heather Phares