Customer Reviews

Rembembering The Fireballs (Part 8)

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I initially bought "these are not fall colors" because some guy at a record store was playing it and it sounded wonderful to my ears. This being Lync's only other release on K records, I had to buy it. "Pennies to Save" is a perfect pop song and probably, the least loud song. So, if you fear easily of loud music, go to this song first, relax as it plays and then, start the CD over. I give this cd my highest endorsement. Musically, this cd is much poppier than their other. The vocals are half screamed, half sung but done, very well. There also seems to be some sonic resonance in the vocals. Very nice touch. The style of the music is basic spare garage pop punk. There are a few moments of pure pop but the production and the influence is clearly punk. I have always enjoyed bands like Superchunk, Jawbreaker, and Built to Spill AND Lync fits into this category very nicely. There's certainly an urgency to their delivery. "Pegeons" is an epic song of the soft/loud-fast variety. The song writer for this band has strong pop leanings but the delivery clobbers any of the typical sacharine sounding possibilities.

When I was a senior in high school, my friend made me a tape compiling his favorite 7" records. On the first side of the tape was Lync's "two feet in front". The bassline, like on Rites of Spring's "for want of", is the sort that will flood the mind with emotions--it somehow seems inextricably linked with nostalgia of the saddest kind. I now live far from where I grew up, and am done with school. When I hear the song, I think of walking the streets of New York, the streets filthy with slush, the air frigid, with my (then) girlfriend beside me, a cold 40 oz. in my backpack, with life full of possibilities. I saw the band play in Olympia that summer, and then moved away from home to go to school. The band's raw, powerful naive sound so closely reminds me of my youth--it's a personal soundtrack to time lost.

We could sit and critique every song on this album, but to me one thing is clear and needs to be mentioned. Lync was one of the very firsts to make this type of music. They may have had other influences previous to them, but they took them and made their own. What came of them? Bands like Modest Mouse and Built to Spill. Remembering the Fireballs is a perfect example of Lync's music. Gritty, lo-fi, honest, in your face. They may not have been as popular, or even as good as bands like MM and B2S, but just like Stevie Ray Vaughan wouldn't exist without Hendrix, those bands wouldn't have existed without Lync. If you like older MM type music and are interested in seeing part of their roots, check out this album. An excellent album by an excellent group of kids.

When I purchased both of Lync CD's, I instantly loved "These Are Not Fall Colors." "Fireballs" seemed to pale in comparison. However, over time (and after having listened to "Fall Colors" until I knew every vibration of it) I grew to love this album as well. It is a slower, more melodic album than its predecessor but does not sell out its punk roots. It grows from soft twangy distorted guitar sound ala Superchunk into an increasingly heavy and emotional sound that shows the increasing maturity of the band. By the last track, "The Last Song" you are faced with an all out noise blitz via a live recording that touches upon the intensity of this band. It is worth your time and money to buy this album; the same threat exists for this CD as per my review of "Fall Colors." Buy this album ...

if you are looking for some fun listening enjoyment, shoot for this album. so indie...so gooooood