polaroids of androids

The Panics are on track to become one of the biggest bands in the country. That isn't reason enough to dislike their latest offering but the fact that it is a dull and predictable romp through every previously traveled road of pop rock and alt-country certainly is.

Cruel Guards is an over-produced album that is almost entirely void of any energy and believable emotion. Sure, we understand the songs carry weight in the way they intertwine the 'heartfelt' lyrics, melody and general catchiness of the song but this pop-rock-by-numbers approach just doesn't sit very well with us. They have meticulously followed the treasure maps laid down for them by all of the successful rock acts this country has produced over the past ten years and produced an album that is tiresome and underwhelming.

The moments when they do travel off course to slightly unfamiliar waters - even the gentle use of trumpets on the first single Don't Fight It - the songs do start to somewhat sound like they might come alive. However, there is not nearly enough feeling behind the music and eventually every track starts to blend into one endless insurance commercial. A fine album to put on if you want non-obtrusive background sounds while you entertain the in-laws, but completely absent of the necessary substance to be anything more.