N o v e m b e r 1 0 - 1 6 , 1 9 9 5

**PEDESTRIAN

(Betty)

The Boston band Pedestrian import their Seattle sound from rock's largest distributor - the ironically titled "Hole" features acoustic-guitar strumming over big and grungy block chords. But drummer Euthan Eubanks and bassist Jeff Langston fail to produce the dark weight that the lyrics and chords invoke, playing only light snare rolls and a spare bass line. And singer Jim Majorowski sounds like U2's Bono - the forced, dramatic Bono of "Wild Horses," not the younger, more passionate one. At least "Shouldn't Be Here" finds him tapping into a desperate wandering vocal more reminiscent of Layne Staley, with the help of a well-built wall of sonic mayhem from guitarist Andre Lyman.

But just when it seems Pedestrian are coming out on the favorable side of a comparison, you get the shameless pop cliché of "Overheard," with Majorowski somehow managing to repeat the lyric "Sorry I overheard what you said to them" for three minutes without breaking any new ground. "Native Song" ends this CD with a plea to recognize the history of the American Indian; it's well intended but not exciting.

**PEDESTRIAN

(Betty)

- Jason Demerjian