TRUSTcompany
The Lonely Position of Neutral
(Geffen Records)
The music industry seems to have perfected the art of producing hard rock debut albums that are blatantly tailored to be enjoyable yet generic. After the radio success of Linkin Park, Staind and Puddle of Mudd over the last few years, we are now starting to see flocks of bands trying to cash in on the scene. In their major label debut, TRUSTcompany provides nothing but more of the same sound'but at least they do it well.
Lonely Position of Neutral has all the trademarks of a thoroughly produced album; aggressive metal and rock sound, strong bass lines, catchy hooks, lyrics about introspection and frustration, all leading to screaming breakdowns. Take Linkin Park, subtract rap and the DJ'the result is TRUSTcompany. In fact, lead singer Kevin Palmer outdoes Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. Rather than pour on the unbearably shrill screams, Palmer frequently drops to a melodic whisper.
However, the album's tracks are absolutely indistinguishable from one another, never straying from the tried-and-true structure of modern hard rock/nu-metal. The album's formulaic approach yields 11 interchangeable tracks that are easy to swallow and would fit into any top-40 radio lineup.
While they aren't doing anything groundbreaking or original, at least they sound good. Then again, that was sort of inevitable, considering the executives behind them'President of Geffen Records Jordan Schur brought Limp Bizkit, Puddle of Mudd, Staind and Cold to the music scene, while album producer Don Gilmore has overseen albums by Linkin Park, Lit and Eve 6. This executive influence contributes to the lyrical homogeny'10 angsty tracks about being pushed away and falling with lyrics that could have been plagiarized from any number of recent rock bands without notice. In the final track, \Take It All,"" Palmer tells us ""Have it all/'Cause I'm learning how to fall/Yes I'm learning how to fall."" Apparently this is supposed to mark some kind of growth by the end of the album, but all it does is reveal the lack of original lyrics throughout the disc.
After listening to Lonely Position of Neutral, it is apparent that the band is concerned with avoiding disappointment and failure rather than achieving a unique voice. Standard hard rock, catchy hooks, frustrated and vague lyrics that rise and fall from whisper to scream: These elements all come together to form an album crafted for commercial success rather than musical expression. TRUSTcompany certainly does a good job achieving this safe, popcorn-rock neutrality'but, after listening to any modern rock station for a few minutes, it is clear that their position of neutral is anything but lonely.
