Flipping through Entertainment Weekly's weak Fall Music Preview (come on, two Sheryl Crow articles?), I noticed The Joggers' With a Cape and a Cane was ranked among EW's "20 Albums We're Most Looking Forward To This Fall". Yes, they barely made it in at no. 20, but even being on the list is an honor for a relatively unknown band.

Joggers must have a very good PR agency. With a Cape and a Cane is not a bad album, it isn't worthy of such accolades. Other than two or three interesting songs, the album's highlights are too often bogged down by tuneless jamming. It's a frustrating album because trimmed of these dull moments, it could be quite good.

The EW blurb draws a comparison to Stephen Malkmus and Pavement. I can hear the Malkmus influence in singer Ben Whiteside's voice, but I would suggest that the Fall's Mark E. Smith would be a better example. Whitesides's vocals lack Smith's bitter drawl, though and Joggers are content to stick with stop-start jams that never quite explode or resolve. Where the Fall had drama and bite, Joggers have a pleasant, lounge-y vibe that is fun, but lacks consequence.

With a Cape starts with promise. "Ziggurat Traffic", the opening track, snaps along with sitar-like guitars and chanting vocals. "We've Been Talked Down" follows with a ragged, chugging guitar and synth line that remains interesting though the songs never really goes anywhere. It's a sign Joggers have potential, but it's not yet been reached.

Listen to "We've Been Talked Down" and "Era Prison" on MySpace.