Blue October

A few years back, Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld went to great lengths to make it clear that music was a business to him, first and foremost. So maybe it shouldn’t be such a surprise that his music is devoid of sincerity. He complained about having to be away from his wife, how angry touring makes him, and how when he’s touring, all he can think is, “Man, I wish I didn’t have to be out here.” The band started out innocently enough, as just another aspiring alternative act, but Blue October’s 2006 single “Hate Me” took them to the big time. Sadly, their albums have been sliding downhill ever since. Now they’re touring their latest effort, the embarrassingly bad Approaching Normal, in which they, commendably, stretch themselves into new territory, but with disastrous results. Now, it’s hard to tell whether they’re supposed to be ripping off Disturbed or Sesame Street. With nonsense like this, let’s hope Furstenfeld has his wish granted, and gets more time home with his wife in the future.