Artist: Steriogram
Album: Schmack!
Label: Capitol Records
Tracks: 12
Length: 35:58
Review by: Phil Nichols

For a relatively new band, Steriogram have a lot going for them. Over the course of just a few months, this New Zealand quartet have landed themselves a record deal, supported the likes of Yellowcard, Something Corporate, and Phantom Planet in a national tour, and have already enjoyed moderate success with radio play here in the US. Now the band has released their major label debut, Schmack! on Capitol Records.

Schmack! is a very laid back album that really doesn't take itself too seriously (evident by tracks like "Fat and Proud" and "White Trash"). The sound, which combines elements of arena rock, hip hop, and pop punk, will bring to mind likeness to Zebrahead and the Beastie Boys. The songs are all arranged it a similar manner: a steady two-three chord beat is established, melodic vocals alternate with rapping through the verses, the songs main hook comes in the chorus, and then the song ends with a layer of rapping/singing over top of the chorus. It is a familiar pattern that works well for the first few songs, but gets tiring after twelve tracks of the same thing. The album is also overproduced vocally, which takes away from some of the good things that do happen on this disc. It is catchy, but in that overly polished commercial radio kind of way, which makes the album bland and uninteresting with repeated listens.

Overall, Steriogram doesn't offer anything new here; just an album of sugarcoated hooks and radio friendly arena rock. It was designed to be a fun record, full of shallow lyrics and catchy riffs, and it succeeds. But it is nothing that you haven't heard a hundred times before. If you want an album that is thought-provoking and full of great musicianship, then this is not for you. But if you want something to put on as background music for a party this summer and you are a fan of Zebrahead and similar bands, then you might get some enjoyment out of this in the first few listens, but after a while you are bound to get tired of the repetition and lack of substance.