Ah, the plight of the smash debut album. Many fresh, new groups have dazzled the world with a brilliant first album, only to disappoint newfound fans later with a mediocre second. While the Smithereens’ Green Thoughts doesn’t quite fall on its face musically, it certainly doesn’t live up to the standards established by their 1986 debut, Especially For You.

The songs on the Smithereens’ new album don’t reflect a major change in direction. The eight-year-old New Jersey group still writes songs with a strong Beatles influence. Lead singer Pat DiNizio is still sporting his leather jacket and trademark goatee—the band’s most valuable visual asset.

The new record’s opening track, “Only a Memory,” even sounds like a leftover gem from their first album. This is a memorable contribution to the singles market in the same vein as “Blood and Roses” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep.”

“House We Used to Live In” and “World We Know” are prime examples of the tight, melodic vocal harmonies reminiscent of the ‘60s rock upon which this group has been able to capitalize. Del Shannon, an idol of the Smithereens from that era, contributes backup vocal help on “World.” This is lyrically the starkest song on the album, (a la “Blood and Roses”), dealing with heartbreak and pain.

“Especially for You,” the title track left off the group’s first album, is arguably the most poignant song the Smithereens have recorded to date.

Besides “Drown In My Own Tears,” the remainder of Green Thoughts is generally bland and meandering for a band of such potential. The Smithereens have shown they can do much better than this. And all comparisons to their debut aside, this record is only slightly better than mediocre.