Runner and the Thermodynamics has opened for theatrical rock god
Alice Cooper, post-punkers
the Rapture, and rapper
Ol' Dirty Bastard? Go figure. Sharing little similarities with those artists, the Boston trio plays blue-collar indie rock that draws from vintage power pop and garage. That can sound like a good time. And while their live shows are supposedly electrifying, this recording is less than electric. Songs that have little sense of grounding to begin with meander for too long, often pedaling past the five-minute mark. "Powerlines," one of several tracks that seem disguised as a vent for relationship troubles, and "The Dude's Old Lady" are likable and save the album from being a complete washout. Otherwise, they trip over vocals ("You Let Me Down") and search unsuccessfully for catchy melodies. As a result, they wind up sounding like a '90s indie rock band that's been stuck playing bars somewhere in Nebraska. ~ Kenyon Hopkin