Vivek Shraya

Toronto-via-Edmonton pretty boy Vivek Shraya offers up some straight-ahead pop music on this grating EP. Though occasionally reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright or Cuff the Duke’s Wayne Petti, Shraya’s voice is an acquired taste. While it works well enough on songs like "Logic vs.” and "Heat,” by the time he reaches "War,” they’re entering feigned arena rock territory. Tegan Quin (Tegan and Sara) lends a faint back-up vocal to the insipid "The Alphabet,” which is almost the most noteworthy thing about this generally banal release.