Film School - Fission

It's been a while since I heard something new that was also a Pitchfork darling. I've been turned off of the "scene" for a while which is why you're seeing reviews of Zakk Wylde, über-popular Arcade Fire and one of my faves, Eels. Film School I know only by reputation and anyway, not much else of interest was released this week.

And when the opening chords started to play, I rolled my eyes and prepared for another boring upbeat chipper-guitar indie pop-rock collection and songs about nothing. But then the first verse kicked in on "Heart Full Of Pentagons" and I saw a change. Just a kicked over tempo, but it seemed to breathe some eccentricity to the proceedings.

Film School certainly has Jesus And Mary Chain leanings and the distorted wall of sound makes that most apparent. It's not all guitar and it's not all rock. Plenty of synthesized chords and drum machines. And all of this is executed well. Hell, "Meet Around 10" is a fucking jam on par with Radiohead's "National Anthem".

Where you're going to lose this writer, and I can assume many of this writing's readers, is the undercut, undermixed and underwhelming vocals. Krayg Burton seems to be channelling alternative and new wave singers of yore with his melodies; but is not stepping up to bat in the performance level. All of those guys like Gahan and Robert Smith and Morrissey still had some effervescent delivery. The closest he gets out of his closet is on "Distant Life"- maybe because he thought it was a cover of "American Girl". And when the chick sings, it's no better.

So if you like your background music to have jangly guitars and nicely toned dance beats, this is for you. (2.5 of 5 stars)