joberooni
01/23/09, 02:55 AM
Fiction Family - Fiction Family
Record Label: ATO Records
Release Date: January 20, 2009
We all know Jon Foreman is prolific, but just how prolific is he? Well, to answer that question, the guy just never stops writing. Less than a year since his last EP dropped, we find Foreman at work on yet another side project. It's not enough that the Switchfoot singer has done 4 solo EP's over that past year, nor does the fact that he is currently at work on his band's next full-length album stop him. Rather, he has joined with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on a side project called Fiction Family. Originally calling themselves The Real SeanJon in an attempt to be sued by Puffy, the duo have always been intentional about their writing process together, attempting to keep things fun and simple, while flowing with the music. With no record label executive hounding their every move, Foreman and Watkins have been able to produce something truly different from what they have done in the past with their respective main bands in an organic, DIY manner.
The record opens with "When She's Near," a song that sets the early tone: acoustic guitars, light percussion, and calm singing. The first single from the album, it is easily the most accessible and catchy tune in this collection. The vocal blending and harmonies hearken back to 60's pop rock done Beatles style. You can definitely hear the influences strongly on this track.
But, as a stark example of its versatility, the album shifts almost seamlessly from the slick and straightforward "When She's Near" to the weird and schizophrenic "Out of Order." Given Foreman's new found interest in strange (or even non-existent) time signatures in his solo work, this song doesn't surprise as much as it may have if released a few years ago. Adding Watkins' bluegrass fast-pick guitar technique gives the song a frenetic, distracted feel - particularly with the insanely catchy chorus that is slower than the rest of the song. It's a complicated tune, but stands as a testament to the combined talent of the duo in the fact that they actually can pull it off without sounding amateur.
From there, the album takes on a more somber pace, with the heart-rending, Watkins-sung "Not Sure" to the Johnny Cash-esque, Foreman-sung tale of murder, "Betrayal." As memorable as these two songs are, there are others on the record that aren't quite so. "Throw It Away" in particular leaves one's ears feeling a bit dizzy from the random and lazy vocalizations, and little else is instantly mind-grabbing on first listen.
The album does end on a solid note, with "Mostly Prove Me Wrong" and the anthemic "We Ride" carried out by Foreman's decidedly more-experienced vocals. His performance on "Throw It Away" is forgivable in light of how strongly he ends the album. "Look For Me Baby" officially ends the record, although it clocks in at just a little over 90 seconds. With an old-timey, saloon/diner tune under Bob Dylan-like vocals, it's definitely more than just an extra hidden track and can stand alone as a legitimate (albeit short) song.
That said, this album is a grower. There's a lot of "noise" moments, where spaces in between some songs are filled with horns, toy pianos, and slightly disturbing horror-film-worthy... er... noise. It really is an all-over-the-place set of songs, and it may take a few listens to truly grasp that what Sean Watkins and Jon Foreman have here is a collection of finely-crafted, well-thought out tunes. One of music's most talented guitarists and one of its most gifted songwriters, Watkins and Foreman have spent many years out of the public eye. Maybe Fiction Family will finally bring them out of hiding.
Switchfoot; Nickel Creek; Jon Foreman; Sean Watkins; Bob Dylan; Bright Eyes; Sufjan Stevens
myspace.com/fictionfamily (http://www.myspace.com/jonforeman)
Record Label: ATO Records
Release Date: January 20, 2009
We all know Jon Foreman is prolific, but just how prolific is he? Well, to answer that question, the guy just never stops writing. Less than a year since his last EP dropped, we find Foreman at work on yet another side project. It's not enough that the Switchfoot singer has done 4 solo EP's over that past year, nor does the fact that he is currently at work on his band's next full-length album stop him. Rather, he has joined with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on a side project called Fiction Family. Originally calling themselves The Real SeanJon in an attempt to be sued by Puffy, the duo have always been intentional about their writing process together, attempting to keep things fun and simple, while flowing with the music. With no record label executive hounding their every move, Foreman and Watkins have been able to produce something truly different from what they have done in the past with their respective main bands in an organic, DIY manner.
The record opens with "When She's Near," a song that sets the early tone: acoustic guitars, light percussion, and calm singing. The first single from the album, it is easily the most accessible and catchy tune in this collection. The vocal blending and harmonies hearken back to 60's pop rock done Beatles style. You can definitely hear the influences strongly on this track.
But, as a stark example of its versatility, the album shifts almost seamlessly from the slick and straightforward "When She's Near" to the weird and schizophrenic "Out of Order." Given Foreman's new found interest in strange (or even non-existent) time signatures in his solo work, this song doesn't surprise as much as it may have if released a few years ago. Adding Watkins' bluegrass fast-pick guitar technique gives the song a frenetic, distracted feel - particularly with the insanely catchy chorus that is slower than the rest of the song. It's a complicated tune, but stands as a testament to the combined talent of the duo in the fact that they actually can pull it off without sounding amateur.
From there, the album takes on a more somber pace, with the heart-rending, Watkins-sung "Not Sure" to the Johnny Cash-esque, Foreman-sung tale of murder, "Betrayal." As memorable as these two songs are, there are others on the record that aren't quite so. "Throw It Away" in particular leaves one's ears feeling a bit dizzy from the random and lazy vocalizations, and little else is instantly mind-grabbing on first listen.
The album does end on a solid note, with "Mostly Prove Me Wrong" and the anthemic "We Ride" carried out by Foreman's decidedly more-experienced vocals. His performance on "Throw It Away" is forgivable in light of how strongly he ends the album. "Look For Me Baby" officially ends the record, although it clocks in at just a little over 90 seconds. With an old-timey, saloon/diner tune under Bob Dylan-like vocals, it's definitely more than just an extra hidden track and can stand alone as a legitimate (albeit short) song.
That said, this album is a grower. There's a lot of "noise" moments, where spaces in between some songs are filled with horns, toy pianos, and slightly disturbing horror-film-worthy... er... noise. It really is an all-over-the-place set of songs, and it may take a few listens to truly grasp that what Sean Watkins and Jon Foreman have here is a collection of finely-crafted, well-thought out tunes. One of music's most talented guitarists and one of its most gifted songwriters, Watkins and Foreman have spent many years out of the public eye. Maybe Fiction Family will finally bring them out of hiding.
Switchfoot; Nickel Creek; Jon Foreman; Sean Watkins; Bob Dylan; Bright Eyes; Sufjan Stevens
myspace.com/fictionfamily (http://www.myspace.com/jonforeman)