Rooney - 'Calling The World' (Polydor) Released 10/09/07

Do you remember that band Rooster? No? Well now you have a new pop-rock peddling band with a similar name that treads similar ground. And new album ‘Calling The World’ is Rooney’s stateside claim for the title of ‘band that you are embarrassed to like’, currently held by label mates The Feeling. Indeed, one look at the cover of this album tells you all you need to know about them. Set against a neutral grey, the band brandish a white flag with their name scrawled across it in triumph. Yet neutrality is the one thing that defines this album that at various point sounds almost exactly like Queen, The Beatles, Delametri, The Who, Blink 182, Cindy Lauper and countless others.

Of course, this does beg the question of whether or not Rooney are aware of how many other groups they are plagiarising with this release. Indeed, there are times when vestiges of an original sound do start to come through. Much hailed single ‘Where Did Your Heart Go Missing’ is one of those tracks boasting a bold bass-driven intro with frank lyrics about love and loss. ‘Tell Me Soon’ is another captivating track which builds at a slow pace and keeps you gripped. There are other stand-out moments in the album that are unashamedly pop but very original.

Yet too often the album sounds like something you’ve heard before. Lead singer Robert Carmine does not help matters with some terrible lyrics that he delivers consistently on nearly every song. Indeed, lyrics such as “I know my reputation doesn’t help you sleep at night” on ‘Are You Afraid’ is just one example of an album littered with memorably awful one liners. Final track ‘Help Me Find My Way’ is the pinnacle of this aspect of the album with Carmine’s hushed singing set against an almost embarrassingly clichéd string section that sounds more like Britney Spears then anything remotely credible.

This is, of course a shame as there are tracks on this album that could easily slot into your guilty pleasures mix without anyone noticing. All in all, the end result is that ‘Calling The World’ is unlikely to give Rooney the stadium act status that they obviously seek. Furthermore, it is this evident desire of theirs that has ultimately sullied an album that, given a bit more forethought might have been able to give a bit more.