Sunspot, Neanderthal

Neaderthal is the latest release from Wisconsin’s self-proclaimed “Arena Geek-Rock” trio Sunspot. Their fourth album promises to be a blend of Weezer and American power-pop pioneers Cheap Trick, but Neanderthal can’t live up to its promises, instead coming off sounding like a weak version of The Stereo’s New Tokyo is Calling or one of many generic and frustrating bands that populated the radio during the mid-to-late ’90s.

Pop-rock always follows a blueprint, and Neanderthal sticks to the formula of a 4/4 time signature with a standard ABAB lyrical pattern. “Goodbye Good Guy” starts the album with a spite-drive break-up song driven by frontman Mike Huberty’s rock-opera like vocals (think Roger from the musical Rent). Multiple songs are rooted in bitterness of basic, “I hate you, you suck and I hope you die,” relationship enders. This theme continues in the broken-heart anthem “Power word, Kill,” which includes the painfully awkward lyrics, “In a word / Obliterate you / With a word / She can make you die / Power word, kill.” Brilliant lyrics aren’t required for pop-rock, no, but competent lyrics are needed to offset the simple nature of the music. Huberty’s overpowering vocal tracks, combined with his lyrics, detract from his bandmates to keep songs below par.

Take the album’s title track, “Neanderthal,” a song focusing on the negative influences of virtual violence. Not much can be expected from a song that manages to incorporate both “violating you” and “raping a hooker” into its lyrics. The song comes off more repugnant than poignant social commentary. Later tracks like “Viking Funeral” and “Ephemeral” differ in subject matter but still fail to make any impression. The only bright spot in the album is guitarist Ben Jaeger, who creates a few attention-grabbing opening riffs and some pretty decent bridge solos to pay homage to the band’s hair-metal influences.

Pop-rock is simple music at its best and makes up for a lack of technique and complexity with catchiness and charm. Neanderthal lacks charisma and actually made me angry while listening to it. If you’re able to overlook the lyrics, you might want to plug into Neanderthal. Emphasis on the “might.” For everyone else, I’d suggest that you’re better off going elsewhere.