Popstar Assassins - Moderne

The Popstar Assassins aren't slaying popstars just yet, but they're also not falling into the category themselves. They're definitely not stars, but as far as "pop" goes, they're halfway there. The appeal is there, but Moderne is just a bit rough for that tag. Don't take it as a negative comment, though, for the band has much more to offer... The jangling guitars stir up memories of early REM. And actually, the vocals do sometimes as well, though only slightly. Far from overproduced, Moderne is gushing with halfway-memorable melodies, and where the lo-fi production fits the album, there is still an abundance of dull moments. "Headache(s)" grabs your attention as the opening song--albeit somewhat predictable--but enjoyable nonetheless, and the swelling keyboards are a nice touch. The remainder of the album follows suit but is so atypical of the genre without supplying anything exceptional. I can't find much about Popstar Assassins. Their album has no website listed, and search engines yield no results for their website, or even that of their label. Possibly a band based solely on a hobby? I don't know, but I can say this--they fall in just above mediocrity. They can be charming on occasions and sleep-inducing on others. [www.popstarassassins.com]