Wind Up

O.A.R’s vision of a wanderer arriving at a big brass show has finally come to fruition. The opening title track to their seventh album, King, begins with regal, majestic horns announcing the wanderer’s arrival and non-violent coo. Despite gallant intentions, the synthesized sounds and accompanying hip-hop beat sound like a concerted though stale effort to achieve mainstream radio play. Other tracks are less schmaltzy, however. “Taking on the World Today” has a snappy, pop beat and saxophone, and first single “Heaven” is an acoustic-based love song. The heartbreaker “The Last Time” has a light ska rhythm, harkening back to the band’s early days and “Dangerous Connection” is a beautifully melodic ear candy. The album’s permeating theme of rising up comes full circle on the powerful and lovely closer, “Back to One.”