6.2001

The Cautions (Top 5 CD's for June)
By Neal Alpert
Boston Soundcheck

Recorded and Mixed at Diamond Hill Studios Cumberland, RI; Engineered by Barry Martin

The fun kicks off right from the opening number, "Coffee Shop Girl," and does not let up until the closing bars of "Groove Baby Groove." The joyful power pop of The Cautions jumps out of the stereo with tasteful, Weezer-esque songs, playful lyrics (on the opening track, Eric Barao sings "If she knew that I thought she's a hottie/Would she still give me that free biscotti?" of the girl working the counter at the local coffee shop), and a little bit of bite. In "Out of Print," Barao sings of how, upon calling it a relationship, he won't miss his girlfriend, and that he wants back his records. The songs all have a nice melodic-rock quality that should earn the group some airplay on the local college stations. Taking the sarcasm of the early Elvis Costello tracks and fusing it with a grunge, dirty guitar feel, the only flaw that the Cautions' debut has is that it is not long enough. Until the next, longer album comes out, though, The Cautions serves us notice that the tri-state area could have a new favorite group on its hands.

- Neal Alpert

(* * * 3/4 out of 4)