Under Review: Fair - “Disappearing World”

Artist: Fair

Genre: Alternative Rock

Label: Tooth and Nail

Release Date: Feb. 9th

 

I remember my first day of Kindergarten in Abilene, TX like it was yesterday. The day shines vivid in my mind for one reason: The discovery that I wasn’t the only one named Aaron on planet Earth.

Well, at least outside of the Bible.

The only other Aaron I knew was the biblical one, Moses’ brother. The one that spoke for him, helped keep his arms in the air so the Red Sea could remain parted and the one that, in a moment of misguided judgment, decided to build the golden calf, thus infuriating Moses enough to throw down and break the Ten Commandments.

But, hey, two out of three isn't bad. And I’m sure Moses made Aaron mad too. Like making staffs turn into snakes and putting them in Aaron’s underwear. And don’t act like Moses would never do such a thing, they were brothers. Aaron probable tried to get Moses to pee to bed by sticking his hand in warm holy water. Brothers do such things, Biblical or other wise.   

But I had never encountered, face to face, another person labeled with the same indentifying tag. I was baffled. I didn’t help that the kid that shared my name was much more impressive than I was. He was athletic, skinny and a babe-magnet. I was pudgy, a Lego maniac and pale. Oh, so very pale. Not only did he have my name, but he wore it like a nice, shiny pin-stripped suit. Mine on the the other hand looked like that polka-doted suit your mother dressed you in for Easter. The kids couldn’t decide whether to interact with you or yell “I found a big one,” referring to the fact you  looked more like an Easter egg than a person. Not to mention the pants ran up your crack causing you to constantly pull it out while the other kids stared at you horrified that you would do such a thing in public.

In short, my reality was shattered. Until snack time. Which really shouldn’t take anybody by surprise.

As I grew older, I soon got over the fact that their was more than one Aaron in this big world. But I started to find that I was the only short, pudgy, geeky and pale Aaron in my plain of existence. Then a funny thing happen, I found an Aaron that I could relate too. One that was short, geeky, somewhat pudgy and pale.

His last name was Sprinkle and he formed a band called Fair.

Aaron Sprinkle, super-producer that has worked from everyone from Anberlin to Demon Hunter, returns to his own band with their second release on Tooth and Nail Records, Disappearing World. And it may be the best album you pick up all year.

Everything that made the band’s freshmen release, The Best-Worst Case Scenario, one of the best albums of 2006 is back. The atmospheric sound, poignant (but simple) lyrics and pop hooks are all present. But Fair didn’t rest on their success. Instead, they took what worked and made it better.

If their was one one complaint I had against The Best-Worst it was the lack of song variety at times. Luckily the band had a sound that, I can honestly say, I had never experienced before and kept me more than interested. But the band has done something few bands have done successfully: Keep what makes you unique and add new elements around your core sound.

The additions of both a heavier guitar presence, up-tempo drum beats and the piano having a lead role on the album, allowed the band to create a record that should be hung on the wall next to great pieces of art.

Even though The Best-Worst did have a piano more than merely  present, it was used more as set-up for each song. Disappearing puts in out in the forefront, making the piano/pop sound more noticeable. Whether its the dancing keys of “Wayside” or the energetic melody gracing “Great Divide,” the piano adds a flare the band lacked on The Best-Worst.

The guitar and drum-beats are used as driving forces rather than just a means to keep rhythm as they were in The Best-Worst. Both work in unison to add energy to each track. Songs like “One Last Time” and “Walking In My Sleep”  are lead by strong guitar riffs and drum beats. An aspect that was missing on the band’s freshmen effort. The boys even included guitar solos on the song “Doubtful,” album closer “Anymore” and the aforementioned “Walking In My Sleep.” But neither instrument’s expanded role stole the spotlight but rather worked seamlessly  with the piano to  make each track strong from beginning to end.

The one aspect in no need of a tune-up is Sprinkle’s lyrics, which continue to be second to none. All great lyricist have a knack of appealing to the smallest element of humanity. On Disappearing, Sprinkle celebrates the emotion of being human in spades. Not to mention he does so with unbelievable hooks.

Sprinkle’s lyrics deal with everything from love and disappointment to bravery and fear. “The Worst of Your Weary” echoes truth as something needed to both realize and fix our shortcomings in life. The song begins with the lyric “Life begins when the secrets end and I don't doubt you anymore” and ends with “examination brings the truth/eliminate what's wrong with you.”

“Walking in My Sleep” is a strong warning about the dangers of being selfish in life and ignoring other’s needs. Sprinkle sings “You used to talk about how you wanted to believe/Sometimes you let it out, sometimes you kept it all from me/I never meant to get in the way.” Powerful lyrics that remind us that we aren’t the only ones with problems and instead of solving ours first, supply an ear to someone to help solve theirs.

One of the most powerful songs lyrically is “Great Divide,” as Sprinkle implores the listener to find what gap that keeps you in fear of living life and cross it. Sprinkle tells the listener  that pausing before jumping to the other side may not be the best thing to do (“you might hesitate but I don't recommend it”).

But the most truthful lyric on the album belongs to the song “Take Some Risks.” Sprinkle sings “I thought loneliness would beat fear/but they make friends and bring them all here
/satisfied, they won't leave tonight.” A beautiful line that encompasses the writing talent of one Aaron Sprinkle.

Fair continues to show what musical greatness looks like with Disappearing World. With key additions to their already unique sound, the band has produced an album that every group should be envious of.

As for me, I finally found an Aaron I don’t mind sharing the roll sheet with.

Final Verdict: 5/5

Download: “Walking in My Sleep”; “Wayside”; “Great Divide”; “One Last Time”; “Anymore"

The List: Top 50 Albums of the Decade #50-#46

I’ve put together a lot of lists in my time. Some would say I am a list addict, while others would say I’m just another geek who believes people actually care about what I like or dislike. I would just like people to read, caring is a bonus.

The truth is when I make a list I do it for two reasons, one unselfish and one selfish.

I make lists because it may help someone discover their new favorite album, movie or comic book. I don’t want to be selfish with aspects of entertainment and pop-culture that I believe others may enjoy as well. Making lists helps me share what I enjoy in hope that you, the reader, will enjoy it also. Hence, the unselfish of the two reasons.

Now for the selfish reason. I also make lists because I just like to make them. I like the internal debate of ranking. I like to second guess whether or not something earns a spot on the list of “favorite” or “best.” I love the discussions a list can bring both with one self and with a friend or fellow critic. I like when people enjoy something I put on a list, but I also enjoy when someone hates something on the list as well. Both create debate. I like what making lists brings to my life, as boring or geeky as that may be.

But this list is my biggest and most difficult I have ever put together. A Top 50 of the Decade is a daunting task filled with shuffling and reshuffling, definites and maybes. Through the process of making such a list, you discover just how diverse your musical tastes really are and how much music has helped shape your life.

This decade has truly shaped my musical life. At the end of the nineties I became a music fan. At the end of this decade I became a lover of music. Which makes this list even more difficult due the sheer amount of music I’ve purchased over the past 10 years and then choosing what should and shouldn’t be on the list.

This list, more than any other, means the most to me personally. I guess you could say this is my musical origin story.

I would like to point out that the majority of these albums are either recorded by self-proclaimed Christian artists or Christians that just so happen do be in a band together. But there are bands of the secular music scene as well that I have enjoyed and more than deserve to be on this list. Though you will find I prefer my music on the clean side than the vulgar. Albums that both musically and lyrically raises questions and drives one to ponder and react, but are enjoyable to listen too as well. I am happy to say, I believe this list has more than enough albums that fit those qualifications.

Without further ramblings, I present to you #50-#46.

50. “Popularity”/Jonezetta/Tooth & Nail/2006

The fusion of rock and dance is a mixture that is really good or really bad. Especially during the late part of this decade with the emergence of such mundane acts as Breathe Carolina and 3OH3! to the fall into dance mediocrity of the once entertaining Family Force Five.  But in 2006, a five-piece band from Mississippi, dubbing themselves Jonzetta, found the correct combination of rock and dance with their freshmen release, Popularity. The album took rock attitude and dance club sensibility to produce an album that was refreshing and fun without sacrificing song writing and  musicianship. “Communicate,” “Welcome Home,” “Get Ready (Hot Machete),” and “Backstabber” are up-beat rock/dance anthems that bring an enormous amount of energy with catchy choruses and foot-tapping beats that are littered throughout the album. But Jonezetta isn’t all about danceable  rock songs. “The Love that Carries Me” and “The City We Live In” are great pop/rock ballads that give the album a good break form the raucous dance beats and guitar riffs. With these tracks, the band serves notice to the listener that the are more than a one-dance pony. Arguable the best track on the record is the title-track, “Popularity,” and serves as a perfect example of how good the band is at seamless blending dance and rock together. Led by great musicianship, lead singer’s Robert Chisolm smooth voice and a whole bunch of good beats, Jonezetta showed on Popularity that you could have fun without leaving musical quality on the cutting floor.  

49. Yellowcard - “Paper Walls”/Capitol/2007

I have to give credit to my brother for this album making the list. When he said that Paper Walls was just as good or better than Ocean Avenue, I scoffed and replied “No Way.” He was right. It may not  be better than Ocean Avenue due to it heavily borrowing from what made that album so good, but it did return the band to it’s pop/punk glory in this writer’s view. The band returns to writing poppy, catchy choruses that serves as fuel for the entire album. “The Takedown” and “Fighting” are two great opening songs that gives just a taste of  how good this album is. “Light Up the Sky,” “Shadows and Regrets” and “Keeper” are beautifully written songs that shows how good the band is at writing emotion filled lyrics. Lead singer Ryan Key brings life to each track with his raw, soaring voice and Sean Mackin brings the signature violin strokes that made me take notice of the band to begin with. Yes, I said violin. When an album returns a band to past glory, it deserves to be recognized. This album is a reminder that going back isn’t always a bad thing.

48. Waking Ashland - “Composure”/Tooth and Nail/2005

My love affair with piano pop may have started with Coldplay, but Waking Ashland was my first indie piano pop act and their first album, Composure, still holds up as an unbelievable album. Composure is sincere and honest as it touches on the good and bad of relationships with a enormous pop presence. Catchy choruses and a souring piano makes this album one of the top in the piano/pop genre. The ability of the band to be able to write both gloomy, heartbroken ballads to upbeat, lively pop songs is amazing. What is even more impressive is how the band can blend both with stunning results. The songs “Rumors,” “I Am For You,” “Edinger,” and “Medication” are all examples of gloomy verses that lead into big, epic choruses.The choruses may well be the best part of the album as almost every track has a huge, catchy choruses that you will be humming as you go about your day. While big choruses ultimately drives the album, my favorite song on the record, “Sing Me To Sleep,” is hauntingly beautifully and emotionally stirring as lead singer and keyboardist Jonathan Jones vocals are spine tingling good. One of the best vocal performances I’ve heard on a song this decade.  Unfortunately, we will never know how good this band could have been. After releasing their second album in 2007 titled The Well, the band called it quits later that year. 

47. Dizmas –“On a Search in America”/Credential/2005

From the very first drum beat and guitar riffs of “Revolution,” the opening track of On a Search in America,  I knew that Dizmas was going to be one of my favorite bands. No other band had a better debut album than Dizmas on this list. The album is jammed with great rock and roll songs accompanied by a punk attitude and grunge distortion. Whether it’s lead singer Zach Zegan’s transition from smooth vocals to raw, primal screaming or the energy-filled guitar-riffs, the band knows how to rock. The drumming of Clayton Hunt is especially ear-catching with a tribal, thumping style that produces fantastic beats and serves as a foundation for each track to rest on. “Saturday” really shows the band’s punk sound as it is a controlled frenzy of riffs, beats and screaming  with a great chorus that ties it all together. “Controversy,” “Riots and Violence,” “Let This One Stay” and “So Long My Friends” are rock and roll to the core, while “Redemption, Passion, Glory” serves as a passionate worship song to Christ. The passion and honesty of this album makes if more than worthy of it’s spot on the list.

46. Paramore - “Brand New Eyes”/Fueled By Ramen/2009

There isn’t much left to say about this album. Whether it’s the punk attitude, catchy choruses or Haley Williams’ vocal performance, Brand New Eyes is a tremendous pop/punk album. Whether its the energy of “Careful” and “Ignorance” or the stripped down sound of “Misguided Ghosts” and “All I Wanted,” the album is a pleasure to listen to from top to bottom. The one aspect that really sits this apart from the groups other albums is the maturity  in the song writing.The near break-up of the band gave Williams’ lyrics more emotion. You can sense how close the band came to calling it quits and hear a reinvigorated band that wanted to make the best album of their careers. Brand New Eyes is the Paramore album that everyone will point to as the bands best and brightest.