It came out of the gate as a young band that was able to approximate the sounds of Seattle. Now, Seven Mary Three want to convince us that they've been experienced. The clunky verse of their hit single, "Cumbersome," still lingers, but, musically, they're trying to locate an intense rock vibe that says, "Been there, done that."

The organ that underpins RockCrown's opening cut, "Lucky," swells as Jason Ross sings increasingly adamantly about the "French Quarter high" that's taken many a rock life. A blues piano creates a somber mood for the awkward conceit of "People Like New." "Times Like These" is a backstoop finger-picker that sounds like Steve Earle emptying another worn-out vein. The band's overblown seriousness leads to some genuinely hilarious moments: What "The Honey of Generation" might be is anyone's guess, but Ross bellows about how "it makes you forget/Where you came from" with parody-worthy urgency.

RockCrown's best moments are smaller in scope. The gentle ballad "Make Up Your Mind" has campfire sincerity. "Gone Away" and "I Could Be Wrong" brood with quiet force. They suggest that if these fellas grow beyond the standard rock clichés they romanticize, there might be a place for them somewhere other than a Vegas Grunge Revival in the year 2020. (RS 763)

ROB O'CONNOR