Cheese power-pop strikes again with SR-71’s new record, “Now You See Inside.” As if it wasn’t bad enough with Lit and Eve 6, this band comes along to further the pop music machine, and offers no apology. SR-71 is: Mitch Allen on lead vocals/guitar; Dan Garvin on drums, percussion and vocals, Jeff Reid playing bass and providing vocals; and Mark Beauchemin handles guitar, vocals and keyboards.Music listeners may have heard the single “Right Now” (“Why do you always kick me when I’m high”) on the radio, and this song demonstrates the band’s happy rock style and is the only song with any value whatsoever on the record. For the most part, SR-71 resurrects the pop rock of the late ’80s and early ’90s. They do, however, attempt a few slower, sappier songs like “Empty Spaces,” “Alive” and “What a Mess,” to no avail. These tracks are just the power ballad revisited.The music of the band is nothing special at all. With standard chord changes, awkward harmonies and failed attempts at the acoustic, the instrumentation is unoriginal and unsurprising. As for the song writing, angst-ridden, teenage poets have thrown better lyrics away. (Nobody understands me and that sort of thing.)”People say there’s a British sound to our music,” Reid said in a press release. “It probably has to do with our respect for bands like The Beatles, Queen and The Police.” Ready to get sick yet? The release also calls “Right Now” and “Another Night Alone” “punkish.” These songs aren’t punk even in the most watered-down, Blink-182 sense of the word. Possibly the only redeeming quality of the band is Allen’s voice. Although it is nothing special, he handles his duty fairly well, and even puts a mild amount of emotion into the music.SR-71 is currently touring to support the release of “Now You See Inside” and will be appearing today at the Newport with Nine Days and American Hi-Fi.SR-71 is among the worst of the pop-rock genre, perpetuating corporate-funded, cookie-cutter pop music. With their polished pop image, these guys are no more than a boy band. The album sleeve folds out to reveal cutie-pie pictures of each member, along with their names and instruments. Give their vital statistics and it’s a dream date come true! Strap a couple guitars to 98 Degrees and the result is SR-71. This band sounds like something you’d have at your junior prom.With nothing new to offer, SR-71 is nothing to get excited about. Lack-luster instrumentation, corny lyrics and boring music make the band worth ignoring. Save your money for more deserving artists.