Extreme Behavior

Extreme Behavior

Hinder

Universal, 2005

REVIEW BY: Cory Galliher

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/10/2006

Before I say anything, let me get it out in the open: if this album had been released in the 90s, it would have been A-grade material. In the 90s, if you wanted a particular song from an album, you'd either buy the album as it is or wait for a single to be released; if you wanted several singles, chances are you'd buy the original album. Albums with three or four good songs and eight tracks of filler, like Oklahoma-based post-grunge group Hinder's first release Extreme Behavior, fare much better in this iTunes and downloading climate because it's very hit and miss.

I can sum this album up very quickly and save readers plenty of time: The four songs you will enjoy are “Get Stoned,” “By The Way,” “Bliss (I Don't Wanna Know)” and “Lips Of An Angel.” The first is a pounding rock anthem; the rest are a bit more mellow, reminiscent of Theory Of A Deadman. “Bliss” is easily the high point of the album, and any post-grunge or alternative rock fan will fall for the track. As for the rest of the album, “Nothin' Good About Goodbye” is very nearly single material and could serve as a fifth recommendation.

These tracks end up being all this album has going for it, and the other five are barely worth mentioning, but I will anyway. “How Long” is one of the harder tracks but ends up being outclassed by “Get Stoned,” “Better Than Me” is easily the least inspiring ballad on the album, and “Room 21” and “Homecoming Queen” are reminiscent of Three Doors Down on a bad day. The album closes on a decent note -- “Shoulda” isn't quite as bad as some of the lower points of this album, but it still doesn't manage to shine.

Frankly, half an album of decent music is more than one would expect to find in a music store these days, but it's much more cost-efficient to pay $4 to download the best tracks here instead of $15 at the store. While Extreme Behavior has some gold, listeners shouldn't have to waste their time panning to find it. But it is worth buying or downloading the four songs mentioned above, because they are not to be missed.