Helicopter Helicopter - Wild Dogs With X-Ray Eyes

Though for the most part plain and unadorned, Helicopter Helicopter has a really appealing guitar-rock sound. The exaggerated pretense that is the band’s name lead me to expect something out of the ordinary, but Wild Dogs With X-Ray Eyes is less eccentric than I assumed. While they may not be as deviant from conventional rock as I’d hoped, the clean, catchy rock is enjoyable throughout. Juggling between equally talented male and female lead vocalists and ranging somewhere between alt-rock and art-rock, Helicopter Helicopter is proficient at walking the line between the college art-student audience and the regular rock-radio audience. The vocals are easily singable and the guitar work carries your attention from start to end. My concern is this: judging by the solid instrumentation and the catchy vocals, it seems as though they could easily develop into a much more complex and experimental band. There are small moments in the lyrics and melodies that hint at exceptionality, but they aren’t ever carried far enough to make a collective difference. Acoustic guitars, more consistent backup vocals, and more bizarre lyrics could propel this band out of the somewhat generic guitar-rock model into a truly unique and distinguished band. I hate to stress the future potential of this band so much, but like The Flaming Lips and The Notwist before them they won’t be essential listening until they find that artistic outlet that defines an entirely new style. [www.helicopterhelicopter.com]