If you’re into All-American Rejects or The Killers you may find yourself tapping your foot and humming along to Push To Talk as you experience an eerie sensation that you’ve heard these songs somewhere before. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The album’s quite strong. Push To Talk fits perfectly into the mold of neo-eighties teenage pop-rock. I wouldn’t bat an eye if a video for “Problems” got regular play for a week or two on MTV, even slid up to the mid-teens on the countdown. It’s a good, catchy song. They’d just need the image to back the music. And judging from the CD insert, I’d say it’s damn well plausible.
There is promise in this album, and that promise lies in singer-songwriter, James Leste. Leste’s voice has a haunting quality that, if ‘pushed’, could set Push To Talk apart from most bands in their genre. Songs, such as “Rock & Roll Will Never Save Your Soul” and “Lose My Head” shine with soulful (Morrissey-influenced) depth; yet, the production manages to suck life from those tracks and emphasize what’s ‘now’ and ‘easy’ and . . . ‘poppy.’ The potential for memorable songwriting and execution is there, waiting to be released.
It’s a shame that Push To Talk’s debut feels limited to the category of the ‘quick-to-love-quick-to-forget’ MTV pop-scene. James Leste has a unique voice and a gift for songwriting – two elements required for giving us songs to remember, songs to feed our souls.
Perhaps, Push To Talk should see if Jerry Finn’s available to produce their follow-up album. They can tell him they want “a little less Sum 41 and little more You Are The Quarry. Otherwise, Push To Talk will slip into that endless void of wannabes and hangers-on. (Say hello to Ugly Kid Joe and Jimmy Eat World for me).
