Ninja Gun - Smooth Transitions
Reviewed by blake
The driving sound of Ninja Gun’s album, Smooth Transitions, is an interesting punk-meets-country aesthetic that succeeds more as a concept than in actual fruition. The idea intrigues me; I enjoy a little country mixed into my music. Ninja Gun’s delivery just comes up short. Songs tend to start out rock and end country, or vice versa, with awkward transitions from one to the other. Apart from that complaint, nothing really grabs your attention. The punk-rock is rather generic, and so is the country. Combined, the results are unremarkable. The song “Losers talking” is sweetly endearing, if not groundbreaking. “Picture of a boy in his prime” may be the strongest, most compelling offering, although it is built over an overly-familiar alt-rock chord progression. The album is not without appeal. Smooth Transitions carries with it a wholesome farm-fresh quality that strikes a chord with the underdog-cheering, Cheerios-eating part of me. Also, the album is focused and well-arranged, telling the familiar story of the inescapable slide into adult life with a likable and approachable manner. If you like cowboy hats, punk rock and are not suffering from extreme musical elitism, you may find some appeal here as well. [www.myspace.com]