Burning and melting skeletons, mechanized gears creating a tidal wave, blurry fast-moving figures exploding in bright light, and a whirring vortex consuming itself…the cover art of this trio’s debut contains the very images of the apocalypse itself. Inside, however, things are a little tamer. Liberal political rhetoric in “D.C. to Moscow,” “The Blunderbuss” and “Sgt. Surrender” share time with upbeat and optimistic tales of love lost. The songs range from pop rock to rock pop, with guitar melodies churning along while perfectly layered harmonies bring to mind outtakes from a Crowded House album.

Although it is generally unoriginal, both lyrically and musically, this album has its moments. The hardest rocking song, “Dabble On,” is also one of the best, as is the swirling atmospheric pop of “Moosehead.” The final song, “The Very Last Time,” leaves you wondering, when they sing “You want it perfect like Bob DeNiro,” if they are talking about the Bob in “Taxi Driver,” “Angel Heart,” “Awakenings” or “Cape Fear”?