Whoa, boy, where to start. Breaking this one into microscopic particles ain't no fun, as every last electron lacks luster. And it's not like critiquing the new Rolling Stones release, where you get the "New Album By Old Jerks" exemption and can string a few offensive and confrontational phrases together and rightfully call it a review. Getaway Cruiser is a young new band looking for an audience, they sound sincere and they deserve a chance. They're trying to blend song- oriented guitar rock with hip- hop grooves, a potentially interesting combination. But it just doesn't work.

Right off the bat, it's clear that the treble- heavy mix isn't doing the purported street grooves any favors. The production pushes the guitars front and center and the rhythm out of the picture, showing the music for what it is: deeply flawed, commercial power pop. You got your power chords and your power choruses, but there's a serious dearth of vigor. Dina Harrison fronts the band. Her white- bread vocals bear some resemblance to Rindy Ross, lead singer of the early '80s outfit Quarterflash, but she lacks Ross' range and charisma. This is not a good sign.

To add some spice to the bland stew, Getaway Cruiser get Pras on the mic to bust a few earthy rhymes for "Not Yet Gone." It works, but Kool Keith's cameo on "Wasting Away" sounds like he's transmitting from a vastly different, far more exciting planet. Once Keith finishes his bit and Harrison comes back with the chorus ("Wasting away/ it's so unlike me/ facing the day/ is not so easy"), it's heartbreaking-- you get accustomed to his presence. You miss the guy. His rap is revealing; it shows that you can be a famous entertainer and still have a major cash flow problem. Whatever gets you through the night, Keith.

I rarely highlight song lyrics, as I think how words read on the page (or screen) has little relevance to how they sound in the song. But this album's lyrics are so severely dull and hackneyed, I would be remiss if I failed to mention them. Example: "Going/ but not gone/ there goes my youth on screen/ or in that song." And how's this for a hooky chorus: "Strung over/ hung out again/ over you." If only it weren't the most interesting one on the album...

Listen, you work hard for your money-- so hard for it honey-- and this album just does not treat you right. So save it for a rainy day, kiddo.

-Mark Richard-San

Sound Clip:
"(I Find) I'm Fine"
MPEG-LayerII
64kpbs.44kHz.
261k.33sec.