Release date: Jan. 24, 2006
11 tracks; 38:36

If you watched "Rockstar: INXS" on TV last year, you probably saw Marty Casey - the long-haired singer trying to become the band's new frontman.

Casey lost out to J.D. Fortune, but he and his band, The Lovehammers, garnered an opening spot on the newly formed INXS tour.

Don't expect INXS on the band's self-titled album - it's harder brand of rock that the Lovehammers are selling.

The album is actually the band's fifth, though first for Epic Records. Casey actually has said the album should be looked at as a greatest hits album, since only "Casualty" was written after the TV show wrapped.

Casey was known for his harder style on the show, but there are lighter moments on the album.

"Casualty" starts off with a nice melodic intro before getting a little heavier. I hate to use a cliche comparison - but it sounds a lot like Nickelback during the chorus.

"Trees" was performed by Casey on the show - once acoustically with Dave Navarro. While that performance would be difficult to top, the album version is solid on its own.

I'll have to admit that I didn't like "Trees" on the show. Mostly because I was looking at the performance as someone trying to become the frontman for INXS. On it's own - the song has easily grown on me and has become my favorite of the album.

"The Tunnel" could be compared to Foo Fighters and while other songs may resemble other artists (there's something about "The Riddle" that sounds so familiar...), the band's major-label debut is a solid one.

It's not groundbreaking, but it is better than a lot of the garbage that's on the radio these days.

Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at March 18, 2006 9:08 PM