North

Something Corporate has had the misfortune of being dubbed a "punk" band by the powers that be, perhaps scaring off a few potential fans. The fact of the matter is that Something Corporate is a pure pop band with emo sensibility in singer/pianist Andrew McMahon's vocals. Potential fans can liken Something Corporate to Ben Folds without the snarky sense of humor. "The Runaway" is among the album's highlights, folding wah-wah guitar in with bouncy piano. McMahon sings "If you're missing/I will runaway/I will build a path to you" before the song collapses in a sea of feedback-like noise. The piano takes the back seat on "21 and Invincible," a hilarious ode to the legal drinking age: "We're 21 and invincible/Can't wait to screw things up." Not all of the songs are winners. "North" meanders along with an occasional hit thrown throughout. However, as clichéd as it sounds, there's nothing corporate about this album. It's a bona fide original.