MUSIC: INTO THE WOODS

The Greenberry Woods draw from a medley of influencesThe Greenberry Woods draw from a medley of influencesby Elliot Karetny The Greenberry Woods are bound to be the next darlings of WDRE. They're supposed to be the next breath-of-fresh-air in alternative music, but in a scene where new bands arrive as often as the Market-Frankfurt El at rush hour, The Greenberry Woods are just too breezy and will quickly blow away. This Maryland group sounds, or tries to sound, a lot like the Beatles and seems to be proud of it. The band's three lead singers (Miles Rosen, the drummer, never gets a turn) aren't too distinguishable from one another. It's eerie how much rhythm guitarist/singer Ira Katz sounds like Paul McCartney on "Sentimental Role." Eerie, that is, how unoriginal the Woods come off. Ira sing-songs his lines as Paul tends to, while the other Woodsmen sing back-up like George and Ringo. This sort of style was fresh back then, but sounds downright hokey nowadays. "I'll Send a Message" blends this Beatles bent with a dose of southern rock (daresay R.E.M.) guitar. The song sounds like a car commercial. Sure, the Beatles' "Revolution" was used to sell sneakers, albeit against their knowledge. But if you're headed for DRE, you have to distinguish your songs from its bouncy advertisements. The Woods have yet to master this art. The songwriting on Rapple Dapple is shaky. Almost all of the tracks are about relationship break-ups from a male perspective, finding someone new, getting back together and other such fluff. These musings are not only from a cheery, listen-to-your-heart point of view, but they also express a hurt, self-destructive streak. What more could you expect from four sensitive Generation X-ers? The Greenberry Woods' similarities to other groups don't end with the Beatles. On "Adieu," they resemble the Psychedelic Furs for a fleeting moment and on "More and More," even the Hooters come to mind. Angry songs like "Waiting for Dawn" verge on Breeders style guitars, but The Woods' Huseman brothers are no Deal sisters. When Brandt's twin brother Matt sings his share of angry post-relationship tunes, he sounds a lot like Elvis Costello. On "Adieu," Matt slurs the words "Adieu" and "I do," much like Eddie Vedder does. The songs on Rapple Dapple are formulaic, built upon countless influences. After a few tiresome minutes, the guitarists try to refresh the songs with catchier riffs. Usually it's too late. Perhaps if The Woods let Miles Rosen sing instead of just monotonously tap his cymbal and bang his bass drum, he could liven things up. Of course, Roseman is no Maureen Tucker, but he does inject an occasional and unexpected flourish once in a blue moon. Rapple Dapple finally closes with "Hold On," a surprisingly decent song. It's far from groundbreaking, but it's a fine note to end the album. So R.E.M. also offered similar advice in the angst-ridden "Everybody Hurts," and even Wilson Phillips sent the same message in its VH-1 gem by the same name-- at least The Greenberry Woods didn't try to sound like Wilson Phillips. So what do The Greenberry Woods have going for them? They have a penchant for the greats, catchy hooks and occasionally good lyrics. Sure, you can tap your feet to Rapple Dapple -- in the same way you'd tap your feet to Barney the Dinosaur's showtunes. If the disoriented Greenberry Woods had an original idea, they could emerge alive and well from the cluttered forest of DRE bands.