Ruckus and the Trousers Grade | C- "Cartoon Lightning" WHAT DAVE HERRERA THINKS: On their new album, "Cartoon Lightning," Ruckus and the Trousers make highly uncomplicated music. The guitars more or less follow the same stutter step rhythm. There are no high flying solos or killer drum breaks.
Lead singer Brandon Gorelli's lamenting, "I'm just having a bad day, day today," is about as emotional as it gets. But simplicity is probably the album's best asset. It's perfect for a party in the backyard when you want something to keep people going, but don't need to bring the house down.
Songs press forward at a steady pace, with plenty of room for Gorelli's vocals - like on "One Way Ticket," when music and words play tag in leading the charge. There are neat instrumental twists thrown in here and there too, like strings that give tension to the wistful, "The Most of You." Piano lines dance around the chords in "Never Does Finish a Thing," but only to provide just enough variety.
It's like none of the Pittsburgh-based quartet want to outdo one another - which is good, because whoever tried would overpower the unassuming skill that is the band as a whole. You can tell they're having fun making music together. Why ruin that dynamic?
The result is a relatively harmless listen, but an entertaining one nonetheless. Not really. I'm sure lots of people do, though, and I hope they enjoy it.
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