After an EP on
Jim Adkins
'
Western Tread
label in early 2003, Arizona's
the Format
jumped to
Elektra
for
Interventions and Lullabies
, an album of accessible and often charming modern
rock
. The appropriately titled, airwave-ready
"The First Single (You Know Me)"
gets things off on the right foot, with a sugary, anthemic chorus propelled by chiming acoustic and electric guitars. While there are several enchanting, mellow moments, including the breathtaking, string-touched
"On Your Porch,"
and
"Give It Up,"
the pair's commercial aspirations on a
ballad
like
"Tune Out"
have singer
Nate Ruess
and multi-instrumentalist
Sam Means
coming closer to
Goo Goo Dolls
-like anonymity than any credible outfit should be comfortable with. That said, the majority of the time
sound pretty darn original, hopping from the waltzing, banjo-touched
"A Mess to Be Made"
to the punchy energy of
"Sore Thumb"
with great ease. ~ John D. Luerssen