Artist: Last Conservative

Album: On To The Next One

Label: Good Charamel Records

Tracks: 13

Length: 48:40

Reviewed By: Justin Brinker

Last Conservatives debut full length is also the first record released on Goo Goo Doll Robby Takac’s Good Charamel Records.  The comparisons to the Goo Goo Dolls as well as several other radio friendly acts of the 90’s could be made when discussing “On To The Next One.”  The difference is its 2004 and not 1996 so radio expectations are almost non-existent if that is Last Conservative’s intentions. 

If you were to listen to just the first half of “On To The Next One” then you probably would have a pretty negative view of the album as a whole.  The self-titled opening track is not a good introduction to this record and the vocals are hard to take.  “Can’t Get Away From You” is reminiscent of The Nixons or The Goo Goo Dolls while “Anything But Goodbye” features an organ and sounds almost identical to a Gin Blossoms song. 

 

Songs like the guitar driven “Fourfive” or the acoustic/electric “Car Alarm” are just dreadful musically and vocally.  Last Conservative redeems themselves on the second half of “On To The Next One.”  Whether it is the soft acoustic laden “Come Down” or the anthem like “Irish” the band seems to get stronger as the record goes on.  It appears like vocalist T.J. Zindle stays within his abilities on the latter half of the record and doesn’t try to do too much thus making it a much smoother listen.  That is not to say that the second half of “On To The Next One” is not without fault it is just a more enjoyable half verses the first half.

 

I would rather see a band draw its influences from the likes of The Gin Blossoms, Toad The Wet Sprocket, and Athenaeum rather than what is going on in modern rock today.  “On To The Next One” has its roots there but fails to capitalize in many areas to the point of sounding dated and stale.  This album is hit and miss when they hit it is pretty decent but when they miss it can be a really tough listen.