It’s impossible to look at fun. and not look back into the history of the band. After all, in a way, they are sort of a Indie-Pop Supergroup. Like Asia for the 21st Century Pop Rock set.
So, before we get into the group du jour of 2012, let’s take a look at their roots. Well, not ALL of their roots. But, the bestests.
The Format – Interventions & Lullabies – 2003
A big, melodic guitar pop sound is what you get when you start up “Interventions and Lullabies”. Since the lead singer doesn’t play an instrument, he relies on the rest of the band to fill the holes in his melodies.
This works for Nate Ruess. He’s free to just write and sing. He’s only constrained by the rest of the band’s abilities. Fortunately, while they didn’t come out of the womb ready and able to play, well, everything, they are fine for what he needs: Power Pop.
Songs like “The First Single” benefit from the band’s naivete and simplicity. And in it you can hear the roots of a credible pop singles manufacturer. For my money, it’s the second track, “Wait, wait, wait” where we really get a sense of what they are going to be capable of. 12 tracks of relatively interesting and exciting rock. Sure, there’s meanderingly pedestrian stuff, like “Give it Up”, but what do you expect? They’re kids. They’re just feeling their way. They are coming from the shadows of Jimmy Eat World and that’s all they know. Yes, they’re from Arizona. 😉
The best thing about this album is that they are free to rewrite much of it as they would with songs like “Tie the Rope”, and turn it into the much better “Pick Me Up” on the next album.
On a track like “I’m Ready, I Am”, Nate overshadows the music with his sickly confessions. If you take the time to delve into his lyrics you will find that he’s often not a happy guy, in spite of the sing-songy melodies. There seems to be sickness in his life, especially for his father. He’s written many times about his dad’s illness. On the plucky ballad “On Your Porch” he first really opens up about this. It’s hard for me to listen unbiased since, a) I lost a daughter to an illness and b), listening to the lyrics on the first fun. record, I have to assume that I am close in age to Nate’s dad (maybe older) and that makes ME feel more mortal and, very old. And it’s a little unseemly to be trying to relate to and review music made by someone who would be the same age as my late daughter. Did that make sense?
I usually give high marks for debuts but, there’s no need to here. It’s fine for what it is. There have been a gajillion power pop records recorded in the last 20 years. Not Lame Records and The International Pop Overthrow have proven that for a while now. Not sure who’s buying the stuff, or IF anyone is buying the stuff, but it’s out there. And this is no better and no worse than all that stuff.
Grade: B-
A Side: Wait Wait Wait, On Your Porch
BlindSide: Tune Out, I’m Ready I Am, Sore Thumb
DownSide: Give it Up
