O'Doyle Rules No Place Else To Go (2004) self-released

With a name like O’Doyle Rules, some goofy costumes, and a website entitled stoplookingatmeswan.com, one would expect anything other than dime a dozen love songs for sad bastards, but unfortunately with No Place Else to Go, that’s all the listener gets from this Houston, TX trio, and lots of it at a medium pace for about an hour…ouch. So where’s the funny? Where are the Adam Sandler references? Where’s the freakin’ “O’Doyle Rules” chant?! MIA my friends, and for this reason, in addition to limp-wristed temper tantrums about lost lust, this project is DOA. The few moments when Scott Doyle (vocals, guitar), Matt Hone (bass, vocals) and Denny Rasberry (drums) flex their funny bones it’s not exactly that funny, but just, well, lame. This is a prime example of how an artist’s work is only as interesting as the artist; that being said, this is straight-up as middle of the road in a gray area as it gets.

The musicians never appear to leave a comfort level above reclining, and comfort is most certainly the mantra of this band. There is not one risk taken anywhere, which leads me to ask: what is it that they’ve taken away from Billy Madison except a tagline as their moniker? I ask this question because what makes that movie work is the complete dedication to the bit; it can be stupid, nonsensical, irrelevant, or even cheesy but you have to attempt and follow through all the way. Charm, dear readers, comes out of the idea, the effort, and the commitment; suffice it to say, the most charming are the most daring and not the most sanitary. Adam Sandler took what he thinks is funny and kept the integrity of the idea and followed through. He has his voice, and he tried it out, and was successful because of that. In rock and roll it is almost always about the charm, not the skill, but if one tries to rock without standing and without stretching out of bounds, it’s just boring and boring ain’t charming. Even a cover of the foolproof “Punk Rock Girl” in the hands of O’Doyle and company comes out bland. Is there a voice to O’Doyle Rules? There has to be, but as of now, No Place Else to Go is a familiar cry that we’ve all heard before, and if the record title is any indication, this trio will continue to deliver more of the same (just in a slightly duller atmosphere).

This band does not play poorly and they seem to know the pop song formula, but guys, try for once to speak with your voices; think about the penguins, get wild, and please stop being dull unless of course that is y'all's speaking tone, and if so, then maybe rock and roll isn’t the career path for y’all. Stop looking at me swan and get to work, that’s my challenge as a listener. I hope O’Doyle Rules can step up and be daring, the other alternative is for them to continue peddling a cheap product on people and I don’t wish that on anybody.

(JiveSide)