Album Details

• Artist: Greg Roth
• Album: Caught Looking
• Label: Rio Rancho
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-05-10

Over 3 years of studio work and writing has gone into Caught Looking, the debut solo project from Philly-DC indie mainstay Greg Roth, and the cast of supporting musicians (from his regular band The Jillians and many others) is long and accomplished. The resulting songs, however, leave a bit to me desired.

What makes Caught Looking worth listening to is the alt-country sound they manage to carry through the album's 12 tracks, making them seem like a perfect fit for a label like Saddle Creek until you get the full gist of things...the affair is power-pop above all. But this is where things get muddled; while I don't doubt Greg's songwriting ability, there is very little power and not much more pop; most of the songs seem to meander and the vocals are rather monotonous and bland. A few of the songs really stick out because most of the rest are so-so; the latin grooves of "Good Heart", the more up-tempo "Healthy Wealthy Wise" and first single "Las Vegas Wedding". 

I want to like this album, I can't see much wrong with it, but the songs on the whole do very little for me. For fans of sleepy, relaxed acoustic power-pop or alt-country much the same, perhaps Greg Roth has something to offer you. It couldn't hurt to try, now could it?

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