The New Tragedies inadvertently conjure a vivid soundtrack to a teen-angst dreamscape within the first minute of their new EP. The four songs sound ready-made for whatever hot new Spelling drama Fox has cooked up. Like the Gin Blossoms but more easy listening -- if you can imagine that -- the first track, "Her Majesty," is ideal for that I-found-the-one-but-oh-shit-I-totally-fucked-it-up scene in which the football player (or cheerleader) with the heart of gold caves to peer pressure and loses that one chance with the hot-but-just-needs-a-makeover misfit. I'm staring past the glare/Beneath the outer layer/I see your crystal ball -- lyrics perfectly suited for the lovelorn protagonist's introspective moment alone, away from the harsh spotlight of popularity. The generic pop rock of "Cannonball" floats facedown in a pool of self-pity -- perfect for the sweeps week "Suicide isn't the answer, dude" episode. The final track, "Drinking and Decadence," is a mostly acoustic tune with banjo and a hint of fiddle that could be played faintly in the background as the fresh-faced but troublesome kids booze in the wilderness with mom's liquor and make out around a campfire -- which turns into a raging wildfire ... after these messages.
