Lonely H - Kick Upstairs

Are these youngsters budding Hansonites or an homage to an earlier Weezer? Their long, blonde hair (some of them, anyway) and high-school good looks may point to the former, but their sound is comprised of a pleasant variety of fuzzy, under-produced rock and pop, and a definite lack of mmm-bop. Hailing from Port Angeles, Washington, Lonely H definitely carries a flavor of the Pacific Northwest, a more subdued and meandering post-grunge kissed with a laid-back, surfer-esque Californian influence. The bulk of Kick Upstairs is mellow, upbeat and enjoyable. Weaknesses include moments of whining in some of the ballads further along in the album, and there are times when an underlying adolescence breaks through. These occurrences may wear thin on older (dare I say, wiser?) ears. The songs “Don’t worry,” “Draconius,” and “Sweet Madeline” will give you a good taste of what is offered, if you are of the downloading mentality. Lonely H are like that band you loved before they grew too big, too out of touch, too trite, too boring and maybe all of the above. Don’t go looking for miracles, and you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy a sip of youthful, ambitious music that isn’t over laden with pretension. [www.thelonelyh.com]