Is it a hit, *hit or miss?

The Calling -  Two  by Chuck G.

The Calling -  Two.
Label: RCA
Hit, *hit or Miss?:  *hit
Rating: 

There are several reasons why Toad the Wet Sprocket took down their progressive light rock shingle from musical Main Street and ceased to peddle their wares. That particular marketplace is overpopulated like Lincoln Financial Field's underground jail during an Eagles/Cowboys football game spiced up with a visit from Santa.

The Matchbox Twenty's and Goo Goo Dolls of the world swooped down and began writing newer, if not better, music to have bland candlelit dinners to. Well, The Calling must not have gotten the memo. 

There's no denying that Executive Producer Clive Davis is as bankable as a Halliburton contract. But even geniuses have the occasional misfire. Even Edison pish-poshed the idea of "talking" motion pictures. 

But the pop-mastermind behind the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin and Santana is showing his age of late...getting behind the likes of O-Town and The Calling.

The Calling showed early promise as a polished, boy-band looking group, but which actually played their own instruments. Led by the Nick-Carter-esqe, Alex Band, The Calling left their calling card on the public psyche with "Wherever You Will Go."

In fact, their contribution to the soundtrack for "Daredevil" was one of that albums highlights. Veering away from soft rock sentiment and getting themselves a little dirty in the process, The Calling was showing some song writing promise.

Hot on the heels of that was Alex Band's taking over (and eclipsing) vocal duties from Nickelback's Chad Kroeger for the radio version of "Why Don't You And I?" from the last Santana salsa guitar explosion. 

But here we are, back at square one. The Calling has disbanded all but Alex and guitarist Aaron Kaman. So what was once a group effort, is now a pretty pop face and a sideman. Wham, anyone? 

Fueled by the adult-contemporary formatted "Our Lives," Band and Kaman produce a perfunctory knock-off of "Wherever You Will Go." Production is great and I'm sure Davis and RCA are hoping for that one big cross-platform hit to line their pockets. Trouble is, it ain't here.

Formulaic and stale, The Calling, and Kaman in particular, rip off U2 and other bands capable of actually originating pop hits with songs like  "One By One" and "Chasing The Sun." The music is safe, even by AOR standards and one screams out for some element to come out of left field. But it's an unanswered request.

This isn't groundbreaking music...but if you're a fan of this particular style and you go in knowing that, you probably won't be disappointed. But there was a particular potential bar set for Alex and his musical Andrew Ridgely, Kaman, based on prior offerings. And "Two" doesn't even sniff that potential.

Zen philosophy (and Anthrax) asks the question, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The answer is, we are unable hear the sound of one hand clapping and thusly, humans must understand their limitations. 

So, too, must The Calling.