In a nutshell: Falling somewhere in between 2003's fun and fresh debut, What Are You Waiting For?, and 2006's watered-down disappointment, Critically Ashamed, FM Static's third CD is a mixture of hook-heavy rock and paint-by-the-numbers power pop. While the band—a side project of Thousand Foot Krutch front man Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine—designed Dear Diary to be a concept album, it doesn't quite work. For starters, the first two tracks begin the disc with incredibly trite lyrics and unimaginative, youth group-tailored arrangements. Though the lyrics rarely improve, the disc's top tracks do mature musically, achieving a sophisticated surf-rock vibe and even showcasing the band's piano chops—giving us glimpses of promise amidst predictability.?
