Following up on a pair of promising EPs and various compilation tracks, the full-length debut by South London pop-punks
Mouthwash is a bit of a disappointment. Early songs by this teenage band had melded the pop sensibilities of first-wave punks like
the Buzzcocks and
the Undertones with the more brash sound of '90s stalwarts like
Bad Religion or
Rancid, but
1000 Dreams is largely uninspired and fairly drab. The songs aren't particularly memorable, singer
Ben McCarthy lacks vocal charisma, and stylistic detours like the ska tinge of "Fools Gold" and the '80s-style arena rocking "Through the Grey" feel like the band is trying on new musical clothes without fully committing to anything in particular. File under promising but flawed. ~ Stewart Mason