Red Wanting Blue

Ever wonder what happened to Hootie and the Blowfish? No? Yeah right, just admit it. For those of you who have wondered, I think I may have found the answer. Hootie and the Blowfish didn't die, they were just resurrected. Their "new" name is Red Waiting Blue, and while they may have changed their names top protect the guilty, the band has so much in touch w/that band that it's almost hard to believe that Darius Rucker isn't their singer. Their album, These Magnificent Miles, might be a slightly countrified version of the original blueprint but it's almost too easy to peg these guys to the American Dad Rock movement.

Relatively middle of the road, with songs that wouldn't sound out of place with Dave Matthews Band, Hootie, and the like, Red Waiting Blue are clearly well on their way to finding some degree of success. Family friendly rock and roll that's not terribly bad nor terribly good, much of what Red Waiting Blue sounds like is bog standard rock and roll that haunts todays Adult Alternative Radio. This is really rather safe stuff that doesn't venture too far out of it's comfort zone and as a result doesn't really distinguish itself from the genre in which it resides. In fact, much of These Magnificent Miles seems content to be right where it's at and in no hurry to step out or think outside of the box.

For what Red Waiting Blue are, they're very good. But for someone who doesn't really like this sort of AAA, parental rock and roll, I'm not too fond of These Magnificent Miles. This record feels safe and sounds safer; there's nothing quirky and nothing unusual about this stuff and it's just not that exciting or different. Unfortunately, until they can do something to distinguish themselves I'm not sure that most people won't think of this as the latest album by (insert big name midd of the road rock band here) either.