The 88 is a Summit burger: All right, simply because you need something to eat, but the burger has been done before, and far better.
The 88’s sophomore effort, Kind of Light, takes few risks, if any. Songs such as “Nobody Cares,” “Bowls” and “Everybody Loves Me” highlight just how little the album strays from the generic brand of indie-rock. It’s even got the token deep and reflective track in “You Belong to Me.”
There is no single, memorable number that stands out or calls for numerous playbacks, and the lack of distinction and uniqueness fails to stand out from the rest of the offerings within the genre. But the album’s weakness is also its strength: Because it follows the same template that similar groups employ, it’s fairly easy to dive right into. It’s a harmless, safe album that you’ll enjoy when you hear it, but immediately forget about the moment you stop. It’s predictable, done medium well.
The 88 will perform at the Casbah on Jan. 28.
