Review

Fear Like Us - Fear Like Us

25.01.2008 | Cam | 0 Comments

Genre: Acoustic/Folk/Punk
For Fans Of: Chuck Ragan – Defiance, Ohio – Against Me!
Favourite Songs: Scars Are Tattoos With Better Stories – Streets Of Mexico – Music And Movement
Running Time: 34:58
Year: 2007
Website Link: N/A
Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/fearlikeus

Score: 86

Grab a beer and sing a long…

REVIEW.

My exposure to Fear Like Us was fairly recent. I’d seen their name around an awful lot over the last twelve months but for some reason I was yet to hear the band, let alone catch them at a show. Well, now that I’ve got past the initial “man, I’ve been missing out” phase, I’m going to encourage everyone else to jump on board the Fear Like Us bandwagon.

Playing a stripped back brand of acoustic punk (and yes, the term folk is applicable here), FearLike Us have crafted some of the most heartfelt and memorable songs that I’ve heard in a long time, once again proving that a passionate performance and a belief in what you’re doing is enough to write a great tune.

The first thing of note is the raw production style which is courtesy of the fine people over at The Arthouse, and although it’s not as intense as a Fear Like Us live performance it’s far more enjoyable than a large number of the over produced and studio polished shit that’s out there at the moment. Apart from having a great name, “Scars Are Tattoos With Better Stories” was a fantastic choice to start the record off. Jamie’s rough vocal style perfectly compliments the remainder of the track and the additional harmonies further strengthen an already impressive song.

While it’s clear that Against Me have had a rather large creative impact on Fear Like Us, the banjo driven “Hungerpains” is far from being a carbon copy of the Florida based group, but rather a fine example of what a band can accomplish when they combine their influences with their own unique approach to song writing.

I suggest you have a read of the lyric sheet before you listen to “She’ll Be Right”… good lyrics combined with a cool riff (and a harmonica just for good measure) are always going to be a winner in my book. With its mid paced tempo, sparse guitar work and a driving banjo, “Streets Of Mexico” is a song which made its way into my memory bank within thirty seconds of hearing it and “Neo (Deceptor) Cons” isn’t far behind!

Choosing a standout track on an album as solid as this was always going to be hard, but there’s something about “Music & Movement” which makes you want to pack your belongings, grab your mates and hit the road. The guitars, the lyrics and the overall vibe of the song just has a certain something about it and I for one, cannot wait to sing a long with the band next time I see them. “Olds Gods And New Tricks” takes things down a notch but that doesn’t last long as “Song Of Rattling Keys” is destined to be played to sweaty fans in small rooms across the country. I think the following lyric sums the song up nicely:

We won’t, give up, until the sun comes up and our livers don’t work…

CONCLUSION.

Fear Like Us is one Australian band who deserves your attention. If you’re a fan of any of the artists mentioned in the record’s foreword then you need to hear this record. It’s as simple as that.