Canada's The Key Frames from Toronto started as a duo of Theo Edmand (banjo) and Rob Webster and have now expanded into a quintet.
The melodic soft rock of their sophomore album, released on their own label, aims to blend the pure pop of Big Star with the back to basics Americana of The Band.
Unfortunately, the quality of the song writing by guitarist/vocalist Webster isn't any where near strong enough to pull this off.
Not only this but it cries out really for a more dynamic production with the electric guitar more central to the mix. Instead, the songs by these "rootsy, banjo-infected rockers" have a pale, washed-out character like a neutered version of The Faces or The Byrds minus the jangle.
Midday Sun is typical of the overly clean-cut unadventurous content, detailing a day spent mowing the lawn, having a shower, going downtown to meet a girl and trying to pluck up courage to declare his love for her.
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In a similar lame style is Wanna Be Rain where we are presented with a series of pointless questions: "Does the grass wanna be hay?......Does the spinster wanna be a lover?.....Does the snow wanna be rain?"
There's a hang the deejay song about the dire state of public radio (The Hit Plays You) but this sounds just as laid back with the wimpy ballads.
The instrumental National Keyframe Rag briefly livens things up but can't rescue this flat and forgettable record.
The Key Frames website
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