Wishbone: “Wishbone” Stampede Records (* 1/2)

About the best that can be said of hard-rock group Wishbone is that it possesses an optimistic outlook on its quest for fulfillment and gratification.

This life-affirming attitude surfaces during several power ballads, namely “Follow the Dreamer,” “Song Everlasting” and “Timeless Moments.”

But the power of positive thinking doesn’t necessarily translate to powerful music; this disappointing, 11-song collection of faceless arena rock is proof.

This band lacks a distinctive voice or style. Instead, it steals shamelessly from ‘70s-era rock stars without contributing anything new to the heavy-metal genre.

Coated in a glossy veneer, Sean Ryan’s vocals become a painful hybrid of Dennis DeYoung, Robert Plant and Steve Perry. Meanwhile, the song titles--”The Blind Lead the Blind,” “Heart Like a Wheel” and “Time Waits for No One”--hint at the cliche-ridden material they label.

Lyrics wander from the mundane (“Baby, I’m no loser / I’ll give you what you need”) to the obtuse (“Life without you ain’t right but, baby, it’s livin’ ”).

It’s not encouraging that Wishbone, formed in 1989, reportedly considered more than 30 songs before settling on this batch. The question now facing the group: Can it bounce back and forge its own musical identity?

(Available from Stampede Records, 2090 N. Glassell St., Orange 92667.)

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Ratings range from * (poor) to **** (excellent). Three stars denote a solid recommendation.