When Kick Back kicks off with “One More Day,” it feels as if we’re going to get some crisp, slightly over-emotional rock. The third release from Friends of Otis opens with standard 4/4 rhythms, tried-and-true loud-quiet-loud dynamics and typical pushed-to-the-breaking-point vocals. Unfortunately, as the album progresses, the further Friends of Otis gets from the middle of the road, the less successful it becomes. Kick Back is a well-produced affair, but for the most part it sounds like the Red Hot Chili Peppers minus the virtuosic noodling of John Frusciante. Frontman Calvin Locke pours everything he’s got into the material, but there’s nothing he can do with his clunky lyrics and eye-rolling word play. With so many other four-piece rock outfits out there, these guys are going to have to tighten the screws before they find more friends.
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