The Fame had one hurdle to get over with me from the
\nstart\u2026 that uber-cheesy name. Granted, they’re basically a
\nhigh-energy, melodically-conscious garage rock band, so they almost
\nhad to be called “The
\nSomething<\/i>“\u2026 but really, “The Fame”? I kept looking
\naround for Irene Cara or Debbie Allen, and neither one is anywhere
\nto be found on this disc.<\/p>\n
Instead what you get is a power-pop quartet that’s obsessed with
\nand descended from such genre luminaries as The Romantics, The
\nCars, The Go-Gos, The Replacements, The Gin Blossoms, (Tom Petty
\n&) The Heartbreakers, and, well, I guess I’d better just get
\npast the name thing, huh? The more I listen, the more it fits. As
\nthe trusty bio sheet says, “Three minute songs. Two guitars. One
\nvision. Seems like a simple enough equation.” It is, and it’s
\nexecuted here with steady energy and panache by Reno Bo (vocals
\n& guitars), Ryan Daniels (guitar & vocals), Patrick Wood
\n(drums & vocals) and Alana Amram (bass & vocals).<\/p>\n
Title cut “Get On The Beat” starts this disc off on a hot
\nstreak, barreling into you on the strength of hammering riffs, big,
\nmeaty power-pop hooks and a sing-along chorus. Appealing stuff, all
\nof it, and the only real flaw to this album is that it really is
\njust as simple as that. No keyboards, no strings, no mid-tempo
\nthought pieces or slow dreamy ballads or blues or folk or country
\ninflections anywhere, anyhow — just a straight six-pack of
\nhigh-energy, steady-riffing, shout-it-out-loud three-minute
\nrockers.<\/p>\n
All right, there is a bare hint of variety. “Come On” slows
\nthings down slightly, though it still features prominent, heavy
\nriffs and good vocal intensity. And “Easy On You” is a little more
\nexpansive than your average power-pop, what with its nimble guitar
\nsolo and instrumental rave-up close.<\/p>\n
Still, it all seems a little one-dimensional to me after
\nlistening to some of the more adventurous bands out there
\ntoday\u2026 but I suppose it’s also refreshing in a way. These
\nguys (and gal) have a mission, and they dive into it with passion
\nand commitment. They’re not trying to be anything other than what
\nthey are — a party-in-your-back-yard-after-high-school-gets-out
\nkind of power-pop band. The end result isn’t going to change the
\nworld, but you can sure as hell dance to it — and there’s nothing
\nwrong with that.<\/p>\n