Fang Island / Major
Album: | Major | Collection: | Missing | |
Artist: | Fang Island | Added: | Jul 2012 | |
Label: | Sargent House |
Album Review
DJ Mir
Reviewed 2012-09-27
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
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 |