Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/06/2001
The Stereo's
No Traffic is one of the best, most melodic straight-ahead
rock & roll records.
Rock & roll, meaning 4/4 time, 120 bpm, straight-out-of-Des Moines pure
power pop (with a slight, slight tinge of
punk). And while their sound is as middle of the road as can be imagined, it never seems stale, and very rarely feels clichéd. Theoretically, it's as commercial as
Microsoft, but, alas, they've somehow been cast away on the
punk-hardcore Feuled By Ramen label. Their insidiously catchy melodies are worthy of the greatest moments of cheese-fest bands such as
Great White (minus the spandex, whiny vocals, and wank-a-thon guitar solos) and as innocently minded as a three-year-old child. It's not self-indulgent, silly, or tacky. Nor is it boldly innovative. But it's so clean, so well produced, and so
rock & roll, it's undeniably refreshing. Fans of
Weezer should put down their comic books and buy this album immediately.
~Kieran McCarthy, All Music Guide