In Brief

*** Paw, “Death to Traitors,” A&M.; This Lawrence, Kan., outfit wavers between chunky metal and Hootie & the Blowfish-style sensitive guitar pop--among other things. It’s at its best charging full-throttle in one stylistic direction or another: snarling rock (“No Such Luck”), Southwestern twang (“Texas”), beefy pop (“Hope I Die Tonight”), even a warped bluegrass interlude (“Peach”). Unfortunately, sensitivity doesn’t suit Paw, and its mellow moments sound pinched.