CD Review

At just over four years old, Chicago’s free space is already beyond their years - incorporating multi-part harmonies, slick sax lines and passive pop into their bouncy mix. Unfortunately, that combination pushes their debut album Move right past rock and straight into adult contemporary. The vocals are light and airy, rolling over a sultry dance line in a heavy Steely Dan scenario, but it lacks the rich soil necessary to hold the balance and ends up as easy listening.

When they move into the jazz realm, its on the lighter jam-pop side - not quite Flecktones schmaltz, but close. If anything, they attain that professional company through Jeff Ciampa’s pristine production work that enables the album to glisten with drive time potential. “Anyway” could easily make the radio rotation on most soft rock stations, or backdrop a climatic kiss in the rain scene to close out a romantic comedy. It's one of many well-crafted songs, as there’s some very talented songwriting here, but it’s so catchy and clean, you can’t get your hands dirty enough to really feel it.