3 out of 5

Produced by: Dave Sardy

Label: Interscope

Cleaned up for their actual major label debut – Delongpre having been shelved after their initial deal – Campfire Girls find their radio-play bids saved by the deep cuts of Dave Sardy’s production, maintaining the gutsy grit of the previous disc’s tracks and marrying it to some pretty sweet, poppy tunes.

Whenever a bass riff or thumping drums kick off a track – right from the opener Junkman, for example, leading in with a buildup of drums – Campfire Girls fully overtake the speakers, vocalist Christian Stone swooning along with confident guitar lines and nice touches of keys.  The high school-era lyrics feel rather out of place, which becomes more prevalent when there’s not a direct hook to get you grooving along, but the lushness with which the material is presented, and the patience and consistency with which it’s played, allows for plenty of pleasant-sounding reasons to move past the shallowness and to sing along.  It’s understood how and why these boys could have netted a major label deal so quickly: the songs are wholly catchy, and even when they don’t lead with something noteworthy, Stone will find his way to a melody that’s memorable enough.  At the same time, the spotlight has dimmed: the energy that could’ve / would’ve fueled their legit debut has dissipated; this is a talented group that’s playing at the back of the auditorium while people are conversating on other matters. When a riff peeks through and catches your ear, it’s easy to keep paying attention, and to recognize a good song.  But the passion isn’t there to convert that sole listener into a crowd.