Mugshot @ CMW 2006

Hometown: Toronto, ON Venue: The Speakeasy Date: March 4, 2006 Reporter:Hannah Guy

Background/Composition: These four fellas strap on guitars to deliver fairly conservative, sting-removed pop-punk music suitable for teen movie soundtracks and prom band appearances.

Grade: 74

Comment:There's no denying these kids have the chops. Yet somewhere in the midst of their atypical rhythms and overly-precious guitar licks, they seem to have missed the soul of the music, offering limp melodies and inoffensive songs for a rather ambivalent crowd of all-agers.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronounciation: G
Stage Presence: S
Stage Banter: G
Image: G
Appearance: S
Use Of Stage: S
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: What we have here is a band who know their instruments and they know their music. What they're missing in spades is a high-energy performance and a sense of fun. You almost feel like they're holding back, but there seems to be no discernable reason why.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: G 
Problem Solving: E
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: E
Organization:E
Audience Participation: S
Sound: G
Composition: G
Songs: G
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: While their songs are reasonably solid, they give off this sense of tension that builds and then just deflates, leaving you feeling slightly disappointed. So you keep waiting for Mugshot to just haul off and start kicking ass and having something that resembles fun. Yet, the songs stay just under the radar, where it's safe. For now, they're simply musical eunuchs.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: E
Sexiness: G
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: E
Nods To Disposible Fashion: E
Cool Equipment: G
Level Of Inebriation: S
Actual Ability: E
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: An argyle shirt on one lad, Vans shoes on another, and a guy who has a healthy enough selection of tattoos to qualify for sleeves status. So they have the look — minus the argyle sweater-thing. But the sexiness is still questionable. Regardless of their age, something still kinda screams out that they're someone's little bothers, and ain't that just the cutest thing. They seem to be missing character, or at least the appearance of it.