MARINE LIFE

“DIVING FOR PEARLS,” New Marines. American. As this EP’s title track shows, the Pasadena sextet can write some pretty impressive pop-rock songs. Centered around the aggressive guitar of Pierre Smith and the hard, steady beat of drummer John Chamberlin, “Diving for Pearls” is the type of track that can propel a band from the underground to the foreground. But like similarly folk-tinged rockers Translator and Wire Train, the Marines showcase as many trite and derivative ditties as tunes with backbone and heart. In addition, Martin Kelley’s mannered vocals often sound like weak parodies of more distinctive new-wave singers. Still, the choice tracks and the assured and diverse instrumental thrust hold promise.