Label - Sargent House
BLURB - This album truly takes me back to my good ol' pop-punk days of high school. You know...Blink 182, New Found Glory, Saves the Day, etc.? Looking back now, it's kind of like...'wow, what the hell was I listening to?' However, in that same breath, a lot of that music is what shaped the person I am now (as much as I love making fun of emo fans everywhere). And so, enter Fang Island, roughly ten years after I bought my last Fenix Tx record. Fang Island brings that same youthful energy, feel and enthusiasm, but actually back it up with some talent and creativity. The lyrics are few and far between on their debut full length record, but that's not to say they aren't offering up some of the catchier, more melodic-rock tunes of 2010. The musicianship here is second to none and the arrangements will remind you of something Rush might have concocted back in the day. The entire album has something of a triumphant and celebratory feel to it - perhaps that's what the whole appeal behind Fang Island is. Good people making good music...something that's easy to get behind.
Rating - 8 out of 10
FULL STORY - First things first, can we give Fang Island the best album artwork award for 2010? I mean c'mon, it's a picture of a fairy hitting a robot-castle. I think it's the hands-down winner.
I bought this album strictly because Pitchfork gave it their 'best new music' tag. Ridicule me if you must, but that was the scenario. After reading the review I bought the album and have been listening to it consistently for the last month or so. Prior to creating my own review, I wanted to see them in person, and was fortunate enough to check them out at the first pool party of the summer in Williamsburg. Truth be told, I was blown away. Usually at outdoor venues the sound really suffers and it's difficult to gauge just how great an act actually was. Be this a testament to the sound guy or Fang Island, I don't know - probably both. At any rate, the tightness and synchronicity with which they performed was at the very least, impressive. This is actually what makes Fang Island, Fang Island. Their sound is comprised of precise solos and well-thought out progressions that effortlessly push the music forward with great momentum and magnetism, making it very easy to sucked into to any one of their tracks.
The album opens with an introduction of fireworks...but of course. Harmonic guitar riffs, an organ solo and four part harmonies eventually prevail, serving as an auditory ice breaker for the band. For whatever reason this (and several other tracks) remind me of Queen. There's something in the build up and celebratory feel to their music...every song seems to be some kind of melodic-punk interpretation of 'We Are the Champions.'
'Careful Crossers' is the first real track of the album and features a slew of thundering drums and varying guitar progressions. The benefits of having three talented guitarists really shines on this track. At any given point, each guitarist is performing their own section against the other two. While you would think this would become chaotic and hazy, each riff and progression plays off of the other and everything winds up fitting like a 300 piece jigsaw puzzle.
'Daisy' is the single and definitely has that single vibe to it. Maybe that's why it's the single? Featuring a rare display of group vocals and harmonies, the track ebbs and flows with catchy guitar riffs and melodies that will inevitably get stuck in your head as they counteract with the vocals. Despite the general lack of vocals on the album as a whole, Fang Island finds a way to create memorable lines of instrumentation (usually guitar) that have an incredible 'hum-along' factor, and 'Daisy' is a great example of this, while also supplementing the track with vocals as well.
The fourth track, 'Side Swiper' is yet another success that combines driving guitars and distortion with a slew of memorable guitar lines. The song itself evokes the personification of persistence and determination. After an embattled collection of progressions and solos, the song finally lands on solid ground about halfway through as we're met with, more or less, some a cappella group vocals. Following the vocal section is an entirely different feel. Fang Island diversifies their punk/rock vibe as they ditch the overdrive distortion for an acoustic guitar and some well thought-out pop leads. The song continues to build and in doing so the distortion slowly works itself back into the forefront. The blatant lack of structure (verses, choruses, bridges, etc.) allows Fang Island to really be creative on the album. It allows their songs to take on new and different shapes, constantly. There is never a period of monotony or predictability.
The track that perhaps doesn't quite fit on the album is 'Davey Crockett.' Contrasting to the rest of the album, the track is (for the majority) a slow burner that evokes atmospheric tones through its use of synthesizers and keyboards. Casual 'oh-woah, woah's' begin to take shape as the songs appears to be readying itself for liftoff. When the hi hat starts counting off and the palm muted guitar appears you know it's time. Erupting from the buildup is likely the most recognizable solo of the album. It's not overly fast or incredibly intricate, but it accomplishes the task of finality. It's ceremonious and holds a lot of weight. Switching off with the 'oh-woah, woah's' are the words 'Davey Crockett' which gives it a real Phish feel. Pretty weird, but I can definitely hear it. The track really reminds me of the Trey Anastacio-classic, 'Lizards.' A bed of triumphant and melodic solos, only to be supplemented with weird vocals, a la 'Davey Crockett.'
Fang Island knows exactly what they are and they know exactly what they are trying to accomplish. They have a certain ingenious way of evoking excitement and enthusiasm solely out of their cleverly devised guitar solos and progressions. That being said, perhaps in the eyes of some, that could be a major detracting factor. The lack of any kind of structure or vocals definitely factors as a hinderance for the band, but I really don't think they care about that. They're here to rock, clearly.
Tracks
1.) Dreams of Dreams
2.) Careful Crossers
3.) Daisy
4.) Life Coach
5.) Sideswiper
6.) The Illinois
7.) Treeton
8.) Davey Crockett
9.) Welcome Wagon
10.) Dorian
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