Derivative and uninspired though at times oddly appealing, AM Radio's "Radioactive" wears its influences on its sleeve. In fact, at times you can imagine what the band was listening to when they wrote each song.

"Hush" sounds like Green Day in the "Dookie" era. "Cold Blue" sounds like The Cure. Other songs draw from The Offspring and still others sound like any other band that took on the feel-good pop-punk since Blink 182 sold out and everyone tried to cash in on it.

But for all the formulaic predictability, "Radioactive" does manage to grab your attention.

The repetitive but catchy "If This is the End of the World" slaps you in the face with a viciously crunching guitar breakdown. "Taken For A Ride" is a goofy, bounding number reminiscent of old-schoolers such as The Clash. "Media Life," with its groovy verses, plays like a neo-hipster horror soundtrack. The bass is slinky and the synthesizer sounds make for a solid track.

But it's hard to take AM Radio seriously when realizing all their songs are about being pissed off or rejected by girls. It's hard to feel like these guys are hard-rockers and edgy as they repeat "I just wanna be loved by you" over and over on the cornball "I Just Wanna Be Loved." The angst vocalist Kevin Ridel tries to convey is lost because he sounds like a tone-deaf amateur pushing his hardest not to sound like he's simply talking. Even on the ultra-cool and flowing "Take Time," the punch that Ridel seems to think his voice packs is like that of a malnourished child.

It's cookie-cutter stuff, but at least AM Radio put a bit of frosting on the top. It's easily forgettable, but it's also easy to listen to.

A.P. Kryza