Am I going deaf? I know I just pressed "Play" on this CD I have to review. I don't hear anything! Oh my God! I've lost my hearing!

Wait a second... I can still hear Wayne in the office across the hall practicing his English. But where's the music?

Wait! Is that tiny sound of unimpressive drumbeats, almost-silent bass lines, and sporadic synthesizers the music? It can't be. Why would a band waste their time with an entire album of almost-silent, not-at-all-powerful or stylish sound?

Corporate MF fall short in their effort to be a unique sound in the pop music of today with The Royal We. Their reach for a Devo-ish, electronic Eighties sound isn't quite realized, and definitely blends into the background noise.