Customer Reviews

Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The CD is worth the purchase price if only for the catchy hit, cable TV. The sexy sweet understated lead singer's voice intentionally clashes with the funny, risque lyrics, the beat is infectious, the melody simple but fun, and the electric sitar a nice unique touch. The rest of the CD is interesting and innovative too. Since they don't fit into the major label/oligarchy of radio station/corporate entertainment genres, they won't get much mainstream airplay, you'll have to buy the CD and support innovative new sounds yourself.

Wow! I don't have any good idea how I would describe the music of Fol Chen--especially reading the descriptions here from the band themselves!!! The band reminds me of the party atmosphere of American acts like the Talking Heads and B-52's. But at the same time, they sound really contemporary with pair ups from the Castanets front man and Rafter Roberts. The songs are lyrically complex as well, and I find myself enjoying each listen a little more. I'm loving it.

I've listened to this album all the way through several times now and it continues to get better with each listen. At first pass, songs like "No Wedding Cake", "Idiot", and "Cable TV" steal the spotlight. But after enjoying the clever lyrics and catchy melodies present in those songs, you begin to appreciate the depth of the album as a whole. Songs like "You and Your Sister in Jericho" and "If Tuesday Comes" with short, intriguing lyrics and woven layers of sound complement well the catchy pop songs. I was hooked from the somber, driving rhythms of "the Believers" to the drum-filled and jazzy "Winter, That's All" and beyond. With this debut, Fol Chen has proved to be well-rounded and you get the sense there is much more to come.