A couple of years ago, Mike TV hit a rough patch. The lead singer for Los Angeles alternative pop band Get Set Go lost his band, his home and his girlfriend. He’s had some time to recover, and has written a weird little album which juxtaposes upbeat, straight rock/fake punk compositions with some of the most laconic lyrics ever recorded.

Selling Out and Going Home is the group’s third record, having released their debut So You’ve Ruined My Life in 2003 and Ordinary World in 2006. They achieved a modicum of fame by being featured on the steaming pile of schlock TV show Grey’s Anatomy, and played a limited US tour supporting Ruined. After getting crushed by sales of a miniscule 5000 discs, Mike went a little crazy and started a crash diet of many illegal pharmaceuticals and hit rock bottom.

Get Set Go’s new lineup consists of hmmm… I don’t know. Mike’s self-absorbed press release doesn’t mention anyone but himself, not a big surprise considering the poor, poor pitiful me lyrical content of the album. It’s unfortunate, because the music is played extremely well for what it is - the band members deserve a lot of credit for getting through Mike’s constant whine.

And what about that odd musical concept of backing up really, really depressing lyrics with high energy pop? I guess the idea is supposed to make the album novel somehow, a gritty, slice of life against pretty guitar riffs and punchy drum beats suitable for dance clubs. Puh-lease. Mike TV could stand a little less self-involvement and little more time listening to the work of Nirvana, The Smiths, The Cure, and to an extant Nine Inch Nails if he really wants to showcase his supposedly raw edge.

Still, I can see how a lot of folks might gravitate to this album. When it comes to upbeat music, the groove is much more important than what’s being sung, so I’m sure Mike TV will find a small legion of tweenies who will adore this album. If you’re into HelloGoodbye and other bands of this nature, Selling Out and Going Home should be added to your collection. In its own little way, the music is catchy even if the lyrics land in your brain with a thud.

But for those of us who need something a little more cerebral, you’d be wise to pass up this album. Even if you find the idea behind Selling Out and Going Home intriguing, you still might want to wait a bit. I have a feeling Selling Out and Going Home will soon be in the cut out bins at a fine local record store near you.