The Boss

Lay Down Your Firearms (2006)

Jordan Rogowski

Margate, England's the Boss would do well to change the name of their band.

It's short, it's catchy, but it's false advertising. Neither Bruce Springsteen nor Rick Ross have anything whatsoever do to with Lay Down Your Firearms and it's on that basis I have a problem with their name. To a be boss, a strong presence is needed, a confidence and command. The Boss don't quite fit that bill with their brand of plain-and-simple garage rock.

That's not to say that this is a bad effort, but it is an effort that lacks any real power or urgency; they lack the swagger and bravado that pushes bands like this from mediocre to great.

"Disco" starts with a jangly, mid-paced rhythm and never rises above that. It proves to be a recurring problem over the course of the album -- the Boss get too comfortable and don't challenge themselves to become more interesting as the album goes on. There are exceptions -- "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" begins with singer Pall Waller singing over some very minimal riffing before a punchy rhythm materializes and Waller lets loose a bit, his gruff delivery becoming more intense as it rises and falls with the pace of the track.

"I Said Damn" puts an interesting foot forth; over a minimal rhythm Waller is seemingly battling with guitarist and backup vocalist Alex Miles, and it proves to be a compelling approach.

For every two songs that hit, however, there's three that miss the mark. Three that dwindle potential away for every second of the running time, failing to really catch stride.