Tyler Lowe & The Alchemists is like a bar band playing while you get drunk and ignore them, and then in a lucid moment you realize that even though the lyrics are bland, the singer has vocal charisma and the group is filled with talented musicians. Aside from strong skill in handling their instruments, there’s little striking about the Alchemists’ sound itself; Polarity, vol. 1 is for those who prefer their rock classic and frill-less without a side of indie quirk, harshness or sole definitive influence. That said, the Alchemists play plain rock on this two-part record with catchy, albeit subdued, hooks; they never seem to get too excited.

Polarity opens with a catching riff in “How Far,” transitioning into jazzy funk bass in “It’s A Good Life.” Probably the most sonically upbeat track is the annoying/infectious “Answer Your Phone,” which brings to mind Maroon 5, and the hardest is found in the grating guitar of “Understanding.” The sound’s even keel can be attributed to Lowe’s vanilla vocals, whose subtext seems to be “I’m the wholesome singer-guy in this rock band.”

That’s balanced by the instrumental prowess of the Alchemists; there are 15 contributors on the recording, Lowe included, and they’re irrefutably tight as the records flows from funky hues to mellow ’90s rock, pretty melodies over revving rhythm guitar, acoustic strumming and an ethereal coldness on the last two tracks (“Tele-Communicate,” “Dream”). I just wish I could skewer the smoothness in Lowe’s voice.