Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight
Naming a band after a PJ Harvey album begs certain expectations, but having said band feature Camila Grey (from brilliant lo-fi outfit Mellowdrone) and Leisha Hailey (from beloved twee menaces The Murmurs) flat-out demands delivery. Unfortunately, Uh Huh Her’s debut album, Common Reaction, is so dull it paralyzed my mind, and for that they suck.
More
- Beyond the Weekly
- Uh Huh Her
- Uh Huh Her on Billboard
Although the album opens with the enjoyable enough “Not a Love Song,” it’s only strong because it cribs directly from vintage Garbage. Variations on the thieving theme continue with second song “Explode” (which mimics The Cardigans) and third track “Wait Another Day” (which imitates Letters to Cleo). And I’ll be damned if “Everyone” isn’t a Natalie Imbruglia cast-off.
Here’s the thing: Garbage, The Cardigans and Letters to Cleo are all great bands. So to that end, Uh Huh Her doesn’t have a bad sound, per se; it’s pleasant, mid-’90s ethereal electro pop-rock. The offending problem is that Common Reaction sounds phoned-in. There is no innovation, no inspiration, not even a hint of passion; nearly every song sounds like something you would skip on First Band on the Moon or Garbage. Consider Common Reaction a shrug in the form of a record—so disinterested and passive that it’s a damn chore to actively listen to it.
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