Slow Runner debuts with immature, catchy songs

Slow Runner's debut brings fast and fun melodies, but lyrics show immaturity.

By John Hendel

Published Jan. 24, 2006

Slow Runner desperately wants its music to tap into the younger generation. "Change your name/pierce your face/run away," are the first words to come out of frontman Michael Flynn's mouth on the band's debut album, No Disassemble. These first words capture the album's mood perfectly.

The band's songs, which all deal with growing up, range from classic to cliché. Those opening words reflect Slow Runner's sardonic attitude toward youth and individuality, though it's unclear how much the band buys into its own sarcasm.

Simplicity is the name of the game with Slow Runner. The lyrics portray the struggles of young adulthood. In "Everything Is Exactly What It Seems," Flynn sings, "You're not straying from who you were in high school," and laments the static nature of his life.

The lyrics alternate between whiny and heartfelt. Flynn's English degree shows through in the creativity of some songs. "Now loneliness is so refined, it's streamlined," he sings in one song, and "Redneck Bar" is an admirable attempt to evoke nostalgic imagery. More unusual creativity manifests in "The Sea Is Never Full," which distorts "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Musically, at least, the band tends to be spot-on. Slow Runner aims to produce catchy pop songs and succeeds in many instances. Flynn understands beats and melodies and crafts several that stay with the listener, such as in "Break Your Mama's Back," "You're In Luck" and "12.19.03." The pianos and drums match up wonderfully to the vocals.

A subtle yet annoying techno infatuation intrudes on a few songs. The band calls it "bleeping and blipping" and in interviews, has expressed a desire for making "interesting, lyrical pop music shot out of space." Painful synthesizers sometimes spring up in the middle of songs. These cringe-worthy moments break the smooth listening and justify why Slow Runner refers to itself as "the giant robot."

Also present is Flynn's high falsetto. His voice lends strong clarity to the lyrics, but the downside is that the falsetto contributes to the album's whiny elements. Some slower songs demonstrate these failures. Flynn's voice grows nasal in "Don't Let Them See Me Like This," and the aches he strains to show in "Streamlined" come across as bland.

But overall, the band produces fun music. The lyrics might be superficial at times, strewn with haphazard phrases and rhymes, but Slow Runner's better tracks pull the different elements together in combinations that work. This probably explains why "Break Your Mama's Back" was featured on an episode of "Grey's Anatomy."

Give No Disassemble a try, but don't expect a masterpiece. The sentiments are often tragically juvenile and reminiscent of high school angst. The album shows promise, but Slow Runner needs to move on and grow up.