The Adventures - Lions And Tigers And Bears (Bonus Tracks Edition) (2011)

The Adventures drift through their fourth album, Lions and Tigers and Bears, on automatic pilot. While Terry Sharpe's soaring vocals can still charm the ears, the songs are tediously uniform. It's hard to distinguish one track from another; every tune is drenched with similar jangly riffs, and the lyrics are devoid of the stellar hooks and emotional punch of the songs from Theodore and Friends and The Sea of Love. The Adventures start the album with a synth-pop cover of the Mamas and the Papas' "Monday Monday," and opening an LP with a remake foretells a lack of creativity. Sure enough, the Adventures seem caught in a rut; there's nothing on Lions and Tigers and Bears which they haven't done better before. The cover of "Monday Monday" doesn't even utilize the group's gorgeous harmonies; instead, it buries them beneath the slick production. Lions and Tigers and Bears isn't a complete waste of time; it's just rather forgettable. The album's best track, "I Don't Want to Play This Game," is a hidden gem; it recaptures the warmth and beauty of the band's earlier efforts. Other than that, Lions and Tigers and Bears is mainly for Adventures fans who want to complete their collections.© Michael Sutton /TiVo