The Boy Bands for the new millennium may not have the horrible facial hair of their predecessors, and tattoos may have scuffed up the squeaky clean image a bit, but the same paint-by-numbers formula of passionless music and over-earnest lyrics remain a hallmark. Clad in neon t-shirts and hoodies (depending on the weather), The Friday Night Boys is the latest variation in the evolution of Boy Band rock (OK, so not sure if these guys have tattoos, but I’m betting they do).
There is nothing patently offensive about their brand of synthesized emo pop, aside from the blandness of it. The four-piece from Virginia, recently signed to Fueled By Ramen, is similar in look and sound to label mates Cute Is What We Aim For and Powerspace, along with a slew of other also-rans with influences that go back no further than Fall Out Boy and Yellowcard. It’s not really worth singling out any particular songs on “Off the Deep End,†as most are interchangeable. The record is probably ideal for 14-year-old girls still trying to come to grips with the fact that Zak Effron won’t be back for another High School Musical movie, but anyone else would be best served taking a pass on this one.
Rating 4 out of 10
The Friday Night Boys – Off the Deep End / 11 Tracks / Fueled By Ramen / http://www.myspace.com/thefridaynightboys