ReviewRed Line Annie must be happy that the studio is forgiving. The band’s debut album, “…Back To three,” combines slipping vocals, over-saturated guitars and cardboard drumbeats into a pop sound that is tight and well produced.Everything is there: power chords, rocking drum beats, and orchestral instruments. But everything has been heard before. For the Matchbox Twenty fan, this album might find a nice place in some forgotten stack of jewel cases, but for the accomplished listener it is only proof that contemporary pop music has flatlined.Red Line Annie is a trio comprised of Ryan Brach, graduate freshman, Michael Goodier and Justin Monjure. But the texture of this album lends more to a band riddled with extra instruments. The group, however, does an excellent job of melding the many instruments heard on each song into a tight groove.The album as a whole shows many elements of a band that can threaten the local scene. It covers a variety of genres, and the overall quality of the recording is very clean. But this is not an album that will turn your head.The first track, “Missed Friends,” sets the unmeshed tone for the entire album. It is obvious the band spent plenty of hours in the studio, but its time would have been better spent practicing. The growling vocals sound like lead singer Goodier recently received a swift punch to the stomach. If he’s going for a “different”sound, he only achieves it by hitting a fair share of wrong notes.If you are browsing the album, skip the second track; it may possibly be the same song as track one. They both have the same pretty arpeggios, beat-box rhythm and even the same tempo.Continuing through the album, the band’s fans get to hear some Kenny G-like saxophone lines and drums that sound as if they came off an electronic keyboard. There is a glimmer of hope on “Two Paths,” however. After ignoring the guttural vocals and cardboard drums, it becomes apparent that Goodier may have some talent – as a lead guitarist. His bluesy lines make for a fun song in the middle of the album.We all remember the eighties, and the band does a nice job of putting those memories into words on “Child of the 80s.” Goodier sings of Thundercats and Transformers, but I would rather read the lyrics than listen to them.

The InterviewAccording to Ryan Brach, a first-year graduate student, inspiration does not come from the heart. “It’s 90 percent girls and 10 percent random stuff,” Brach said.Brach and his band Red Line Annie are preparing to release their debut album, “…Back To Three,” today.Brach, an MBA student at Loyola who received his undergraduate degree from Loyola in 2000, has been keeping his band alive since high school.”If I got a job, I would have to focus completely on that. … I’m putting off real life for a year,” he said.According to Brach, the band formed in 1996 as The Bob Ross Experience.”We wanted to impress our friends by actually playing songs … rather than just saying, ‘Oh, I play guitar,'” Brach said.Although the band has recorded demos in the past, this is the band’s first experience in the studio.”We recorded it at Kevin’s [Redmann, the album’s producer and engineer] home…. Technology is so good these days that you can make something recorded in a home studio sound great,” Brach said.Tonight at Madigan’s Bar, the band is scheduled to have a CD release party. But, according to Brach, it will not be the typical release party. Instead of playing the music live, the CD will be played over the stereo from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.”We wanted a gig with the crowd,” Brach said. “There are always these experiences that people have at shows, and we never get to be a part of them….This’ll be something different.”With graduation just around the corner, Brach said he hopes the party will be a big step forward for the band. But the road ahead is still long.”We’re like those bands trying to break out from New Orleans and Baton Rouge,” Brach said. “There’s a lot of good rock in New Orleans…but it’s not seen as a rock town.”