The Drag
Satellites Beaming Back At You (Island)
by Sheril Stanford
If Blur and Oasis were a) American, and b) infectious, spirited and hooky, they’d be The Drag. Satellites Beaming Back At You is a collection of ambitious lyrics with tunes that stay with you, especially the loopy, romping “Our Race Car” and a spirited, vibrant tune called “Sterling.” High melodic content, pure vocals and varied dynamic shifts work well on most of the tunes on this disc, but some of the slower tracks are weighted down with an unappealing sense of self-importance. The quirkier tunes are the best; catchy and captivating. If you’re gonna name your band The Drag, you can’t be, and they’re not.