Just when we all thought it had been beaten to death, Adam Richman has released Patience and Science, dealing one more superfluous blow to the proverbial power-pop horse. The twelve tracks of Richman's debut full-length take all the traditional musical elements -- nasally vocals, clean guitar tones, poppy piano riffs -- and mix them with all the traditional song topics -- struggles with girls, oneself, and life in general -- to create a bland medley of crisp and clean, if not over-produced power-pop gems. The songs are written to formula: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Each track has decent hooks and you may even find yourself singing along to the infectious choruses on occasion, but the enjoyment is fleeting and temporary. Adam Richman has succeeded in putting together a harmless record that is paradoxically totally listenable and yet totally forgettable. If you are a fan of the genre and your power-poplust cannot be sated, then this record is good for a few spins before it's initial charm wears off.
