Every Tuesday, I issue a series of Tweets ticking off noteworthy new albums and singles. Since the list is limited to genres of immediate interest to me (pop/rock/R&B/dance), sifting through all of the debuts is the first step. And if I don’t immediately recognize the artist attached, song samples help me determine if these releases reside in my musical wheelhouse and therefore merit a spot on the list (whether or not they ever make an appearance on the blog).
So until yesterday morning, I can’t say that I’d ever heard of Fake Problems, just out with their third LP, Real Ghosts Caught On Tape. The four-piece got its start in the same Naples, Florida punk scene that gave us Against Me!, but the music that Fake Problems makes leans more indie rock than such an area association might initially suggest (though I haven’t given albums #1 or #2 a spin to fully know the sonic path they’ve traveled).
The band’s sound is a little difficult to describe (even lead Chris Farren can’t quite pinpoint it), but here goes: Straight-forward indie rock that’s a little rough around the edges, occasionally epic in tone but still quite personal, with flecks of alt-country, heartland rock, and pop hooks jockeying in the mix. The Gaslight Anthem is as good a musical comparison as any, and not wholly surprising once you discover that the two bands share a producer (Ted Hutt), are signed to the same label (SideOneDummy Records), and are currently performing on tour together.
The opening track on Real Ghosts Caught On Tape, “Adt,” immediately caught my ear and drove me to find out more about Fake Problems. It’s one of those tunes that would be perfectly placed toward the end of some teen movie when everything comes together just as the clock is winding down. Hearing the song could similarly inspire you to run out and accomplish something truly great. Or not. At the very least, you’ll tap, tap your feet to “Adt”:
Purchase Fake Problems – “ADT” via iTunes, Amazon MP3. Plus, snag free downloads of two other tracks from Real Ghosts Caughts On Tape: “Soulless” via the band’s website and “Songs For Teenagers” via Amazon MP3.
