By Kyle Kiekintveld & Thomas Jenkins
GENRE: ALTERNATIVE
LABEL: TOOTH & NAIL
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2010
THOMAS’ RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5
KYLE’S RATING: 4 OUT OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 4.25 OUT OF 5
THOMAS’ REVIEW:
Indie is a genre I procrastinate about. Whenever I listen to indie music, I feel like I should listen to it more, and listening to bands like Death Cab For Cutie and Deas Vail always inspires to listen to more of it. Unfortunately I’m often too lazy to follow up on the genre, and I normally end up missing a lot of good indie rock acts.
Enter Fair. The only reason I heard about this band was that they were recommended for a Deas Vail album I bought on itunes, and the only thing I really knew about them beforehand was that they stem from the impetus of Aaron Sprinkle who produces most of Tooth & Nails albums. One of the few things I knew about him was his producing job , which he’s quite good at (Anberlin’s Cities, Mae’s The Everglow). so at the very least, he’s very familiar with some great music. Aside from being a stellar producer, Sprinkle also was a former band member of an old christian punk act by the name of Poor Old Lu. Fair goes in a completely different direction though, as their newest album, Disappearing World, is straight up indie.
To start things off, Disappearing World is a stellar album. To be perfectly honest I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from Sprinkle. I know he had the potential to write good music, but I wasn’t sure how good his newest release was going to be since I hadn’t heard any of the songs from his former release, The Best Worst-Case Scenario. Speaking strictly from hearing this album alone though, Losing All is a great piece of work.
The album starts off on a great note, as the first strains of “Disappearing World” grab the listeners attention immediately, and there’s only a few instances in the musical journey laid before the fortunate listener that his/her attention will be released. Why you ask? Well because Aaron Sprinkle crafts a delightful release filled with indie pop tunes that will simply put; leave you wanting more. Sprinkle knows what he’s doing here, and if there were any flaws in his former release, I think it’s safe to say that he’s corrected these flaws here.
Lyrically, Sprinkle shines, but what really makes his album great is the overall feel. Sprinkle’s vocals are solid, and the wistful, almost yearning emotions they convey add immeasurably to this albums success. I guess I should have seen this coming, but the album is so beautifully produced that it’s almost impossible to not love it. He also blends all of the instruments into a beautiful package that almost throws itself into the arms of the listener and demands to be enjoyed time and time again. Finally, the fact that the album is only 10 tracks long also adds to it’s beauty. Normally, I tend to dislike albums that are only 10 songs long, because it leaves the listener wishing for more. Here it’s possible to say the same thing, but the album’s such a cohesive project that the overall feeling I left with was that this album was so good it fits fine the way it is. And while it’s hard not to wish for more songs, it’s also a great credit to Sprinkle that he was able to keep his album at an enjoyable length, with barely any filler.
Disappearing World is a rare find. It’s a few steps below perfect, but just a very few. Sprinkle does begin to sound a little safe and easy on a few songs, but these moments are few and far between. I’d recommend this album to anybody who’s into the indie genre and/or needs some fresh music. Fair is definitely a band worth checking out, and their sophomore release is so far certainly a candidate for album of the year.
KYLE’S PERSPECTIVE:
Disappearing World is a near perfect album by Fair. The songs are hyper, sincere, emotional songs backed by a complex rich musical style. It is an album that is easy to listen to with a smile. It is a youthful happy-hyper-sad album that is a showcase for the considerable talents of the band.
Disappearing World first and foremost is not an aggressive, ear splitting, head shattering album. It is a hyper album with serious songs, delivered with a playful, youthful sound. It is the type of sound that can dull a depression and stop a bad day in its tracks. The album is also ten tracks long, and with the constant stream of EP’s coming out it is nice to see a solid, full length album.
“One Last Time” is a grand example of the overall tone of the album. A happy-go-lucky song about the absence of heartbreak with a truly great post-Morrissey sound. It is hard to not feel the infectious nature of the lyrics and music.
“Anymore” is one of the slower songs on the album. It too deals with heartbreak but the sound of most of the album is replaced with deeper more poignant lyrics. It seems a bit out of place with the rest of the tracks, but it is quite well done and noteworthy in its own right.
The only slight fault with Disappearing World is that as a whole the album on the surface can seem almost bubble-gum pop in its playful tone. That is counterbalanced fairly well with the sheer bliss of the music. The album is a wonderful homage to the bittersweet joy of young love.
Authors Note: Aaron Sprinkle produced this album and is the lead singer for Fair. The name might not be familiar but it should be, as he has worked with a virtue whose whose of Rock, Alternative, Christian Rock, and Post-Hardcore. This man has serious talent and is a force to be reckoned with, both as a producer, musician and a singer. In a few years I have no doubt he will become a household name, and frankly he should be one now.
Review copy provided courtesy of Tooth & Nail Records.
