I’ve read some very nice things about Zeno Beach, the first new album by Radio Birdman in almost thirty years. “The punk legends from down under go above and beyond your typical reunion album,” spouts Jack Rabid in the eMusic review. AMG proclaims, “Simply put, Zeno Beach is better, far better, than anyone had the right to expect.” Being familiar with their classic 1978 album, Radios Appear, and intrigued by such enthusiastic reviews, I didn’t hesitate to download the new one when it showed up on eMusic the other day.

I’m a little sorry to say that I can’t join in with the others to heap more praise on this belated effort. I want to believe but my honest assessment is that it’s nothing more than a decent album. Oh sure, the Birdmen sound inspired and offer up a solid hard rock platter. The guitar tandem of Deniz Tek and Chris Masuak churn out tasty riffs and blazing solos and Rob Younger’s vocals in particular are a highlight, expertly conveying a host of moods, from rawk sleaze to bitter regret to earnest longing. The problem is there’s just not much that sticks or demands to be heard repeatedly. The bright moments are countered by long stretches of generic dullness. To be perfectly blunt, if Zeno Beach were put out by an unknown band instead of one revered for its brief but scintillating past, it’s unlikely that it would show up as more than a tiny blip on the rock and roll radar of 2006.

Mixtape track- “Subterfuge”
Freebies- “You Just Make It Worse” at the Yep Roc site.