REVIEWSChain Gang of 1974, ‘Wayward Fire’

7

• SPIN Rating:7 of 10

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Release Date: June 21, 2011
Label: Modern Art

"Stop," the opening track on this tempting cheese plate from Colorado pop romantic Kamtin Mohager, sets lyrics about disaffected kiddies to bopping, sampled funk. By the sumptuous finale, "Don't Walk Away," he's praising hard-working parents while guitars swell to end-credits splendor. Mohager is an all-things-to-all-people kind of guy, and he almost gets away with it. Wayward Fire swoons and grooves deliciously, but the lyrics have a distinctly processed flavor: "I will run / I will ?hide / I will see you in a matter of time" is frustratingly representative.