The Golden Hum

Kicking things off with the building title track, Remy Zero makes quite the first impression on The Golden Hum. The momentum keeps up through "Glorious #1," the fast and furious second track, then slows down into a catchy U2-style rocker, "Out/In." That is probably the best point of reference for this band, as many of their songs are similar to Achtung Baby-era U2. It is that brand of moody pop/rock that carries the fivesome through the album, but it is also what keeps the album from truly being spectacular. The resemblance to the Irish foursome is amazing; the ghost of Bono haunts these tracks like a specter, always reminding you that what you are listening to is pretty good, but not the real thing. To be fair to the band, the music is nothing to be ashamed of; it is all performed very well and it is even catchy. But there is nothing here that has not been done before, and as competent as they might be, that still does not make the album any more listenable. Fans of the band will probably enjoy this very much, but casual listeners may have a hard time looking past the averageness of the whole affair.