Under the Tray
A hodgepodge of skits, alternative emo rock, and quirky electro-pop,Under the Traycontinues the tongue-in-cheek style of 2000’sPromotional Copy. Reggie’s only member,Get Up Kids’ keyboard player James DeWees, takes full advantage of his solo status, bouncing over the musical map as the mood suits him. Similar in method to the Kids,Nerf Herder, andWeezer, DeWees mixes a "lost youth" vibe and hugely appealing choruses with goofball energy. DeWees’s willy-nilly use of disparate styles sometimes distracts from his obvious talent. Still, whether he’s affecting a fake English accent for the new wave "Mood 4 Love" or breaking out the heavy-metal leathers for "Apocalypse Wow," DeWees’s musical intelligence is always evident.--Matthew Cooke