Fang Island / Major
Album: Major   Collection:Missing
Artist:Fang Island   Added:Jul 2012
Label:Sargent House  

Album Review
DJ Mir
Reviewed 2012-09-27
Fang Island formed in 2005 as an art project at RISD. The name is misleading: Fang Island makes happy, excited, rock – this is not angry stuff with fangs. The band’s sophomore effort, Major, features upbeat, cheery, melodies blended with short, simple riffs. RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, The Shins, The Strokes. No FCCs detected. Recommended: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7.

1**. 3:51: Long (1 min), twinkly, simple but nice piano intro, then vocals come in layered under the piano – the piano is the main focus in this song. Then some distortion and a chorus. Interesting mix of discordant, darker elements with bright piano.
2. 3:41: blah guitar (sounds kind of 90s maybe almost Blink 182? EW), ok but not distinctive melodies
3. 3:24: Melodic vocals; although words drowned out by strong guitar riffs. “I want to seek out the angels.”
4*. 5:49: Catchy, with vocals and riffing guitar alternating.
5**. 4:18: Way catchy, repeats “I hope I never understand, I’ll probably never understand” with some interesting guitar riffs going on that are echoed in different registers. Upbeat.
6*. 5:13: The riff here is very reminiscent of In the Middle by Jimmy Eat World, but the vocals are more harmonic and softer. Driving percussion.
7***. 3:35: starts off slower and sadder, then kicks into high gear around 28 seconds in. Instrumental intro lasts till . Sounds islandy, surf-rock, a little country twang mixed in. Alternates between downtempo and uptempo sections. Purely instrumental.
8. 3:16: nothing remarkable here – unoffending vocals, pretty boring riffs. 2:19-end there is a nice section of “ahhhhhs,” though.
9. 2:49: uptempo. Features rattles. Slows down in the middle portion, then picks back up again. Purely instrumental.
10**. 4:02: heavy, dark, brooding – unlike most of their other songs. Interesting melodies copied by the dark guitars. Uses actual chimes. Piano re-appears near the end of this song.
11***. 5:23: long intro w/ no sound other than record scratches and people talking in a background. Distortion from about :25 on, then at :45 the song really starts. I recommend starting at :45, because the scratches are yucky and there’s a lot of silence at the beginning. But once the song gets started, it’s quite pretty, with forceful, interesting vocals.

-DJ Mir

Track Listing
1. Kindergarten   6. Asunder
2. Sisterly   7. Dooney Rock
3. Seek It Out   8. Regalia
4. Make Me   9. Chompers
5. Never Understand   10. Chime Out
  11. Victorian