I really wanted to love this record. However, Rooney’s second release, “Calling the World,” is a mediocre attempt to move away from the surf-rock, Beach Boy’s inspired sound that the California natives’ first album impressed us with.
Funny enough, their first record, the self-titled Rooney, brought to us the very sound that the quintet of boys are trying to steer clear of, and is the reason that they sold around 400,000 copies, not bad for a debut record.
This album followed a similar formula that directed the first. Break downs in the same place, catchy pop hooks there, but this time it wasn’t fresh or exciting.
The guitar parts were heavier on tracks “Calling the World” and “Tell Me Soon.”
Their current single, “When Did Your Heart Go Missing” starts out like an up-tempo Johnny Marr guitar riff, but it soon turns into a song that could have easily been a B-side to their first album.
Almost the entirety of the album sounded like an attempt to incorporate an early 80’s radio rock vibe, especially with the inclusion of Journey keyboard parts.
The fifth track, “Don’t Come Around Again” sounded like a Bob Seger song with harmonies. None of these are bad influences, but when you use them in an uninventive way, the record seems stale.
The lyrical content goes back and forth between love and premature loss of that love. Will she or won’t she stay with the guy? I don’t know, but please make up your mind boys.
The only song I was impressed with was the closing track, “Help Me Find My Way.”
The violin parts on the stripped-down song went well with singer/guitarist Robert Schwartzmen’s vocal delivery, which was akin to the king of contemporary croon, Rufus Wainwright.
Did I like the album, yes and no. The finished product isn’t bad, but I’m just wondering why it took Rooney four years to make a lackluster version of their first album.
Rooney asks, “When did your heart go missing?” I ask, when did the creativity go missing and when will they realize that they shouldn’t try so hard to change?

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