**1/2 Treehouse

NOBODY'S MONKEY

(Breaking/Atlantic)

The first release from Hootie & the Blowfish's new Atlantic imprint is an uneven but promising debut by four Liverpool transplants now settled in Hootie's hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. Although Treehouse's tendency toward cloying earnestness ("On My Own Again," "Losing Tonight") comes distressingly close to their bosses' at times, Nobody's Monkey's best moments are built on solid, inspired songwriting. "Rain on Your Parade," the disc's first and best track, is a kaleidoscopic modern-rock update of Beatles-esque psychedelia. But Treehouse go against the grain of Brit pop by incorporating Americana touches of mandolin, accordion, and banjo. The result, on power-pop nuggets like "The Days" and "Hangin' On," brings to mind a more imaginative, more technically proficient Gin Blossoms.

-- Jonathan Perry