"There’s nothing automatic about recording a debut that stands out with its potent blues-rock mix. Despite the self-effacing Low Expectations title, the pressure was on Ernie And The Automatics to come up with the goods."

That’s because the six-piece band reunites guitarist Barry Goudreau and drummer Sib Hashian, founding members of BOSTON whose 1976 debut LP achieved multi-platinum status. Other members have played in RTZ, Orion The Hunter, and John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band, widely known for the soundtrack to the movie Eddie And The Cruisers. The group’s founder is guitarist Ernie Boch Jr., whose late father etched the family name into New England’s TV annals by closing his automobile dealership ads with the enthusiastic tag-line: My name is Ernie Boch. Come on down!

Instead of cloning the familiar Boston arenarock style, Ernie And The Automatics develop their own blues-rock identity, highlighting the sweet- ’n-snakey saxophone of Michael Tunes Antunes and the rough-’n-ready voice of keyboardist Brian Maes. The sextet forges the bluesy Low Expectations, the swinging Tappin’ On An Empty Head, the hard-driving Blues Town, and the harmonica-laced Back Around, produced with a gritty backroom vocal sound. Goudreau flashes his dazzling guitar licks on the heavy Dead Man, the clever The Best Is Up Ahead, and the pulsating The Good Times (Never Last), whose catchy hit potential will appeal to fans of BOSTON’s layered, FM radio-friendly arrangements.

Fueled by undeniable group chemistry, Ernie and The Automatics spotlight their musical chops on the instrumentals Hong Kong Shuffle and Fly In The Milk, which completes the 12-track album on an engaging jazz-lounge note.