A bland band.
When perusing a band's bio and history there are certain phrases and words which don't instil great confidence. "Ex-drummer of Rialto" is certainly a phrase which is unlikely to get a crowd beating any door down, such was the lateness and blandness of the post-Britpop come-down malaise of that act. Couple that to an ex-music journalist (what worked for the Pet Shop Boys is no guarantee of success for others) and the initial hopes for CoStar aren't high. Musically the band sound American but aren't, forming in Britain from the ashes of various acts. It doesn't get any more exciting than this but as you'll find, life with CoStar doesn't necessarily involve excitement.
Opener 'The Awakening' with its hook of "it goes on and on and on" sums it up rather quickly. It does go on and on, that brand of big guitar rock, appealing to the masses, for those who think The Feeling are a bit too bland but The Hold Steady a bit too Bruce Springsteen for their liking. The middle ground for the middle person who likes their songs brash, with a few quieter moments, but plenty of singalong bits. It's nothing new but as long as the masses keep wanting this sort of fare then bands are always going to be able to churn it out.
'Goodmorning Sunshine' chugs away at a reasonable pace, dipping just before the chorus to allow the bigger push, you can picture the arena crowds going mental for this bit but it could be any of the songs available here. What 'Exit' holds in consistency, it lacks in invention or innovation or jaw-dropping moments.
At face value and for what it is, it's not a bad record but there's a shiny and clean production sheen to it all that leaves you with the impression that Costar won't be stealing anyone's hearts. You don't have to be American to make Americana, no more so than having to be in love to be able to write a love song but there's a sense of lack of conviction here. And it's permeated into this review as its been tremendously difficult to muster any enthusiasm or great joy for the songs on show here. There's nothing bad but it's been hard to find even one track of great talent or that would merit being played from the rooftops. Costar don't do anything like enough to grab the full attention.