Let It Ride

Three albums in and Shed Seven's hard-rocking trad-rock is beginning to play itself out. The band sailed by on pure energy on Change Giver and they began making musical progress on Maximum High, but on Let it Ride ...well, they simply let it ride, turning out raucous Brit-pop and trad-rock with only occasional flair. A few cuts find the band breaking through from their trademark sound, such as the knees-up raver "She Left Me on Friday," and those are the moments where the band sounds truly alive. Otherwise, Shed Seven delivers the predictable. To some fans, it may be worth a couple of listens, but they won't be able to deny that the group is backing themselves into a corner. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine