Verve Pipe
The late '90s produced a spate of faceless if hit-making pop-rock bands with names likeMatchbox 20,Third Eye Blind,Dishwalla--and Michigan's Verve Pipe. The quintet's 1996 RCAdebuthit with its title track, "Villains," as well as "The Freshman," pushing the LP past platinum. While their self-titled sophomore album boasts songs not nearly as memorable as its predecessor, the Verve Pipe still deliver an impressive-sounding LP with songs both elaborate and unadorned. On "Supergig," singer Brian Vander Ark infuses the tune's jangly yet driving psychedelia withRichard Butler-like vocal inflections, while the more straightforward and peppy "Hero" finds a happy medium among dense, melodramatic pop-rock tunes and several sweet if nondescript ballads. With a few exceptions (the edgy and devil-may-care "The F Word" and "Hero") the dozen tracks populatingThe Verve Pipeare forgettable if adroit efforts.--Katherine Turman