With the next track,”Rolling Hills,” I continued to try to pin-point something with the lyrics. Lyrically and vocally, I’m trying to find something to grasp and it all floats by. My favorite parts are the piano and lead guitar, the band has it together, so no problems on that end. I can tell with lyrics like, “your face turns blue, you waste these years, never knowing what’s to lose,” that’s not light stuff, we’re dealing with, but why does it seem like it’s not driving things home? I think that as far as the instruments go, the whole thing comes together.

The album isn’t really sad or happy, there is supposed to be some sort of deeper meaning here, but it’s not leaving an impression. Everything is sitting well, but I’m failing to be moved by the material. The songs on this album are well done, but leave something more to be desired. This is the kind of opening I’d expect from an album put out of the Weight Room. The album opens with an actual “small craft advisory” warning. The album was recorded at the Weight Room in Washburn, the studio where I cut my teeth on a few albums. The album begins with the track “Small Craft Advisory,” this band kind of takes its name seriously.

Upbeat alt-rock with some awesome instruments is what is really going on here, from there it starts to sink. This is not to say there is no depth, but you have to listen very carefully for it, because it sounds like upbeat alt-rock throughout most of the album. The group is certainly tight with this release and it passes as something worth listening to, but my only hang up is meaningful depth. The line up includes: Kent Paulson (guitar/vocals), Sean Mahoney (guitar/vocals), Matt Sjelin (keys/vocals), Dave Clark (drums) and Steve Karels (on bass…of course). The band Songs of Shipwreck has been around for awhile and has played their fair share of songs at local venues.

Fortune favors the brave song