[Local]
The Cab
Whisper War ** 1/2
Panic at the Disco may be looking to the past, but labelmates The Cab are sticking to an advanced, hyper-produced route. Frenetic soul-pop fills their debut, a bouncy, synthy boys’ night out featuring guest vocals by Brendon Urie and Patrick Stump.
Overall, however, it’s mostly frivolous, aiming for play alongside Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake. The Cab have personality and talent to carve out a unique niche, but for this album anyway, drive seems to have superseded depth. –Julie Seabaugh
[Local]
Action Cat
Reginald and the Visitor ** 1/2
Fourteen-minute length aside, the Cat bites off a lot on this debut EP, a five-song cycle presented in three “acts,” with anthropomorphic animals playing central roles in a decidedly human drama. Under those rigorous conditions, it’s no major surprise the music—breezy pop with an occasional rocking moment and too few certifiable hooks—can’t quite keep up. Still, points for going big from the get-go; they’ve got plenty of time to sharpen their claws. –SP
[Local]
Yeller Bellies
Boys Will Be Boys ***
The strange and creative Yeller Bellies show how far they’ve come with their first album, a 41-minute roots-meets-psychobilly stomp. While “Bullets, Booze and Sombreros,” “Gutter Dogs” and “Haunted” all help set new standards for minor-chord local songwriting, “Animal Instincts” and “Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am” rely too heavily on standard rockabilly. In future, the Bellies should include more of the dark, twisted material that’s made recent shows so memorable. –Aaron Thompson