The Graham Colton Band are an interesting band to be sure. They aren’t particularly groundbreaking but they do have a charm that is rarely found in music today. From the opening chords of “Don’t Give Up On Me” it’s clear these guys know how to write a hook. References to bands such as The Wallflowers and later years Goo Goo Dolls as well as older bands such as the Gin Blossoms or 54-40 will definitely be forthcoming for GCB and I think that definitely makes sense based on the music alone, but the one thing GCB really lacks is a top notch vocalist. There are moments when Graham’s vocals actually do fit perfectly but for the most part they seem extremely out of place on a pop/rock effort such as Drive is.

The lyrics are solid, well written pieces dealing with the trials and tribulations of life and love. Common themes for a pop/rock artist, but Graham seems to find interesting ways of saying the same old thing. “And you, gotta meet everyone before it's all over. Why? You’re gonna be here next weekend.” (Cigarette) They certainly are not going to mistaken for brilliant poetry, but Graham does have a quirky sense of humor and a social consciousness that seems to be lacking in music these days.

Music and the arts are supposed to be the great equalizer in life. The one place where people can speak their mind about important issues whether positive or negative. Unfortunately it seems few bands are actually attempting to say anything of value these days, save Pearl Jam, but let’s face it, it’s been a while since Pearl Jam really had the ear of a nation listening to them, so it’s nice to see a young band with a bright future musically take a chance at writing some material that people of this generation might actually connect with.

Overall I think it’s a solid disc, it’s got some interesting guitar work (even a few solos) and some very nice hooks. The lyrics are generally interesting throughout the entire set. The vocals often time are a little annoying, but generally Graham does manage to make the choruses work. It’s a nice ride, it’s not going to be a classic of the genre like New Miserable Experience but it’s a nice step in the evolution of this band. Let’s just hope for more in the future. 
 

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