Fiction Family - Fiction Family

[Blake Solomon]

Fiction Family - Fiction Family
Record Label: ATO Records
Release Date: January 20, 2009

Put two guys in a small room and lots of things can happen. Terms like “cropdusting” or phrases like “I just went from six to midnight” are usually born in these environments. Women become trading cards in the naughty game of life. Pizza is consumed in diabetic doses. Or am I generalizing? Wait, not so fast with the finger pointing. After all, most of the popular duos these days are male-female. There hasn’t been a decent guy-llaboration since Mike Shinoda and Jay-Z’s groundbreaking love-fest Collision Course. (Dun Dun Dun) Until now! Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman and Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins have set out to restore dude love’s lost notoriety with Fiction Family. The resultant self-titled record has plenty of charm despite lacking any “super band” qualities.

Those who became enamored with Foreman’s folky acoustic solo project will eat Fiction Family right up. The record isn’t as bluegrass-oriented as Nickel Creek, but fans of that band would also be remiss to skip this record. There’s a good mixture of styles here, ranging from the piano-rocker “When She’s Near” to the achingly sparse “Throw It Away” to closing knee-slapper “Look For Me Baby.” Somewhat surprisingly, the vocals are mostly handled separately. As far as that goes, it just depends if you prefer the smoothness of Watkins or the rasp of Foreman. “Elements Combined” benefits from Watkins as his vocal melodies add a wonderful counterpart to the slightly eerie instrumentation. Watkins’ songs have a special way of taking you back in time, even if said time is before you were born. “Betrayal” is another subdued track, although Foreman leads the sorrow this time around. Not a shocker due to the name, but it’s not exactly a happy song: “I don’t remember much about that night / But I’m pretty sure it rained the day I died / I think it rained / I’m pretty sure it rained the day I died.” If these guys have anything in common it’s heartbreak.

As much as I enjoy the diversity on Fiction Family, it’s hard to call this a cohesive album. Watkins and Foreman worked on and off for 3 years before completing the record, and as such there isn’t that beginning-middle-end quality we tend to crave in our music. You won’t miss any grand scheme if you put Fiction Family on shuffle. Perhaps if there was more vocal intermingling between the two it would feel more collaborative, but as it is now, this could be two separate EPs packaged together. Foreman’s tearjerker “Please Don’t Call It Love” would benefit greatly from Watkins’ empathetic vocals. Watkins is providing instrumentation, but his involvement feels so limited. (“Mostly” is a good indication of what Watkins’ voice would add to Foreman’s.)

Fiction Family doesn’t sound like a group effort. Each man proves time and time again why he is so revered, but the listener doesn’t feel blown away in the slightest. Logic dictates that two good artists should make one great record. Fiction Family can only muster decent results - I mean, “We Ride” is essentially a The Beautiful Letdown b-side. For future recordings Watkins and Foreman should set aside consecutive days to work on an album. Tour schedules and pre-existing responsibilities make this difficult, but for a record to be collaborative there actually has to be a sense of togetherness.


Recommended If You Like: Jon Foreman's solo career, Sean Watkins' solo career, my solo career?, worship unplugged


www.myspace.com/fictionfamily

[HometownHero]

I disagree. I loved this record. Anything Jon Foreman touches turns to gold

[Jeremy Aaron]

I was kind of looking forward to this, but it ended up being something of a snoozefest for me.

[Nick Le]

I still haven't heard anything from them...I'll need to check it out.

[Jamos4184]

"Out of Order" is probably the best song on the album (and most upbeat). I was able to catch their show in Philly with Person L and it was probably one of the best shows I've been to. Foreman and Watkins have great stage presence and really play off each other well. The lyrics alone make this better than a 62%.

[hockeyguitar99]

You're gonna make blindrider529 cry.

Great review though. This album was boring as all hell.

[i12punk]

I disagree. I loved this record. Anything Jon Foreman touches turns to gold
Sean Watkins doesn't need Jon Foreman's help to turn anything to "gold."

[awakeohsleeper]

I really like Jon Foreman. Absolutely loved his four EPs.
This is a good review.

[Blake Solomon]

"Out of Order" is probably the best song on the album (and most upbeat). I was able to catch their show in Philly with Person L and it was probably one of the best shows I've been to. Foreman and Watkins have great stage presence and really play off each other well. The lyrics alone make this better than a 62%.
i think i like "mostly" the most (har har), just because it sounds the most shared between the two men. Don't get me wrong, i like this album. I just wish it sounds on record as cool as it sounded when they announced a collabo record.

[topher465]

62% This isn't a I Set My Friends On Fire record

[Xianmusicfan]

I liked this but not as much as Foreman's solo stuff. Watkins made this album a little less enjoyable for me, I mean he's good and all but I love Jon's soft, melancholy style and Watkins is like the exact opposite of that. But this is still a good record, my favorites are Not Sure and War In My Blood (which Foreman has been doing live for a while I think).

[bears clap loud]

I dunno about a 62% but I'd call it average. It's good but I was hoping more from two very talented musicians. The again I know a few people who say this record is nothing shy of outstanding.

[joberooni]

I enjoyed this album, but it didn't blow me away. You're pretty much spot-on with the review Blake. good work.

except:
"worship unplugged"
wtf?! haha

[Ryzenfall]

Jon Foreman's solo material is a lot better than this album. Pretty disappointing. But at least he's got four EPs of songs enough.

[Mens]

i saw them in concert in SF and it was an amazing show. Sarah Watkins was there and she killed too. They did a bunch of sweet covers like "Keep the car running" a radiohead song, and "Pink Triangle" it was sweet.

[Gregory Robson]

You're probably right. This could have been a bit better, but it's still TONS better than lots of stuff out there. Still trying to recover from those first few sentences. Whew!

[GoWaitInTheCar]

I always read Blake's reviews because he can write, so I of course I read this one.

I'm at work right now so myspace is blocked off. Who are these two gentleman who are a part of this project? Honestly, I have not heard of either of their works (at least to my knowledge.) Is Nickel Creek one of their previous bands names?

[blindrider529]

I absolutely love this album. I'm a HUGE fan of Nickel Creek (and of Sara & Sean Watkins, and Chris Thile individually) and of Switchfoot and Jon's solo work.

I agree that it's not very cohesive, but I guess that's not a reason I would listen to an album. I love the songs. Good stuff. I recommend it. :-)
___________________________


I'm at work right now so myspace is blocked off. Who are these two gentleman who are a part of this project? Honestly, I have not heard of either of their works (at least to my knowledge.) Is Nickel Creek one of their previous bands names?
Jon Foreman is a solo artist and has been the brain of Switchfoot since their first album in 1997. Sean Watkins is in a grammy winning acoustic-pop-bluegrass-folk band called Nickel Creek. You can go to nickelcreek.com or jonforeman.com and listen to some of their stuff. Nickel Creek = world class musicianship.

[ryanhartkopf]

I liked this but not as much as Foreman's solo stuff. Watkins made this album a little less enjoyable for me, I mean he's good and all but I love Jon's soft, melancholy style and Watkins is like the exact opposite of that. But this is still a good record, my favorites are Not Sure and War In My Blood (which Foreman has been doing live for a while I think).
I'm in agreement. I've never been a big fan of Sean's voice... it's smooth to the point of blandness. I was really hoping that more of Nickel Creek's bluegrass would come out in this album.

[blindrider529]

i think i like "mostly" the most (har har), just because it sounds the most shared between the two men. Don't get me wrong, i like this album. I just wish it sounds on record as cool as it sounded when they announced a collabo record.
You know what's funny? There is probably no one who was more excited for this than me. I am Nickel Creek-obsessed and Jon Foreman is pretty much a hero in my life...but I was a little dissapointed that this album didn't make my heart explode or something. THEN I went to their show a couple weeks ago. This stuff sounds a trillion times better live (see my blog (http://www.absolutepunk.net/journal.php?do=showentry&e=132582)). It made me feel exactly the way I imagined the album would. I don't use the word epic often, but..I really hope that at some point they get time off from their schedules and realy sit down together and work on an album. Honestly, after that show I wish they would do a live album.

[Blake Solomon]

You're probably right. This could have been a bit better, but it's still TONS better than lots of stuff out there. Still trying to recover from those first few sentences. Whew!
i thought it was funny :-(

[soulineyes]

i think i like "mostly" the most (har har), just because it sounds the most shared between the two men. Don't get me wrong, i like this album. I just wish it sounds on record as cool as it sounded when they announced a collabo record.
i agree. i love jon and sean...but they don't blend very often on this record. 2 solo eps makes more sense.

[trappedintime]

Worship Unplugged, eh?
Haven't heard any of their material but I'll give it a listen...

[meghanlail]

62% This isn't a I Set My Friends On Fire record
50% is average. Therefore, a percentage greater than 50% is above average. Common sense.

Also, great review, Blake. I still need to give this a listen.

[Jamos4184]

i think i like "mostly" the most (har har), just because it sounds the most shared between the two men. Don't get me wrong, i like this album. I just wish it sounds on record as cool as it sounded when they announced a collabo record.
Gotcha. It's a fair and good review, especially considering how much less biased towards them you are compared to myself. I definitely agree with Blindrider, as I said before, their live show is spectacular. Their cover of Radiohead's "Idioteque" was great. I wish they had recorded it for the album, although I don't know that that would have made it any more cohesive.

I'm guessing the "worship unplugged" in the RIYL section was intended to be sarcasm, but if not, I didn't think their lyrics were very (if at all) "preachy" with maybe one exception of "Closer Than You Think".

[Jamos4184]

I absolutely love this album. I'm a HUGE fan of Nickel Creek (and of Sara & Sean Watkins, and Chris Thile individually) and of Switchfoot and Jon's solo work.

I agree that it's not very cohesive, but I guess that's not a reason I would listen to an album. I love the songs. Good stuff. I recommend it. :-)
___________________________


Jon Foreman is a solo artist and has been the brain of Switchfoot since their first album in 1997. Sean Watkins is in a grammy winning acoustic-pop-bluegrass-folk band called Nickel Creek. You can go to nickelcreek.com or jonforeman.com and listen to some of their stuff. Nickel Creek = world class musicianship.
Dude, tell me you've check out Thile's new (newer) band Punch Brothers...if not, you should get on that.

[hotwax87]

this album is excellent, foreman and watkins both worked hard to showcase their skills in guitar playing and creative lyrics. this is music made for the insightful listener. well argued review, but i disagree with a few of your assumptions about the creative process.

[Blake Solomon]

Gotcha. It's a fair and good review, especially considering how much less biased towards them you are compared to myself. I definitely agree with Blindrider, as I said before, their live show is spectacular. Their cover of Radiohead's "Idioteque" was great. I wish they had recorded it for the album, although I don't know that that would have made it any more cohesive.

I'm guessing the "worship unplugged" in the RIYL section was intended to be sarcasm, but if not, I didn't think their lyrics were very (if at all) "preachy" with maybe one exception of "Closer Than You Think".
ha yeah, just a joke, i meant no harm by it.

[thefirewithin]

I adore this album.

62%??? That's all? Seriously?

[Jamos4184]

ha yeah, just a joke, i meant no harm by it.
No harm, no foul. I wasn't offended, just lost in e-translation, so to speak.

[littlebeav]

Sean Watkins doesn't need Jon Foreman's help to turn anything to "gold."
This. Plus I also completely disagree with the statement that anything Jon Foreman touches is gold. What a load of horseshit. Some of his stuff is phenomenal, and some of it is the sound of a dog shitting himself to death played over a very generic and re-hashed sound from a previous song. WAY too inconsistent.

[joberooni]

This. Plus I also completely disagree with the statement that anything Jon Foreman touches is gold. What a load of horseshit. Some of his stuff is phenomenal, and some of it is the sound of a dog shitting himself to death played over a very generic and re-hashed sound from a previous song. WAY too inconsistent.
Wow. Foreman's stuff is always going to be good. I dunno how you can even begin to think that the sound is generic. Perhaps if you only listened to "The Beautiful Letdown" then MAYBE I can understand where you're coming from.

But really? I don't know how you could think that... really...

[cereal4life]

50% is average. Therefore, a percentage greater than 50% is above average. Common sense.

Also, great review, Blake. I still need to give this a listen.

Don't be so patronizing. Since when is 50% average? Every reviewer (staff included) often rate very differently. And if you're rating according to the traditional way then 50% is almost a failure.

I've heard material from both Nickel Creek and Switchfoot but never really checked either of them out. I'm going to start with them first and then move onto this album. Good review, Blakester!

[justrockthesock]

I totally disagree, this is Jon Foreman, not forever the sickest kids...62% come on...this is record is actually quite good...the lyrics are great as well as the musicianship and creativity 4???

[meghanlail]

Don't be so patronizing. Since when is 50% average? Every reviewer (staff included) often rate very differently. And if you're rating according to the traditional way then 50% is almost a failure.

I've heard material from both Nickel Creek and Switchfoot but never really checked either of them out. I'm going to start with them first and then move onto this album. Good review, Blakester!
Patronizing? I am simply trying to help. And yes, every review does rate differently. However, I always seem to see people complaining about a percentage being too low, no matter who writes the review. It just makes sense to me that 50% would be average.

[blindrider529]

Dude, tell me you've check out Thile's new (newer) band Punch Brothers...if not, you should get on that.
haha got that, too! Chris Thile is the defination of a virtuoso! What a brilliant, brilliant guy. I've noticed lately how much I love his voice, too!

I'm also pretty stoked to get Sara's solo album. I think it comes out in March.

[Jamos4184]

haha got that, too! Chris Thile is the defination of a virtuoso! What a brilliant, brilliant guy. I've noticed lately how much I love his voice, too!

I'm also pretty stoked to get Sara's solo album. I think it comes out in March.
Yeah, I'd like to get Chris's collaboration album with Edgar Meyer that recently came out. I've heard nothin but good about it.

[Blake Solomon]

50% is average. Therefore, a percentage greater than 50% is above average. Common sense.

Also, great review, Blake. I still need to give this a listen.
yup

[cereal4life]

Patronizing? I am simply trying to help. And yes, every review does rate differently. However, I always seem to see people complaining about a percentage being too low, no matter who writes the review. It just makes sense to me that 50% would be average.
Yeah, I guess you're right. The "common sense" part just seemed a little patronizing but sometimes language doesn't translate well over the internet. You could say that 50% is between 0 and 100 and hence is the "average". When I think of 50%, I think it's pretty much a fail, like you would read a mark you receive at school/university/colllege. But, as Blake explained, he sees 50% as average!

And I completely agree with you about people always complaining of how an album should be getting much higher than it gets; that gets annoying.

[d00d81that]

I love Jon Foreman. But this was just okay for me.