Faber Drive Avoids the Sophomore Slump....Barely
Cory T. Shaeffer | Pittsburgh | 01/07/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"From the instant this CD is opened, it is very clear that Faber Drive has (as most powerpop/pop punk bands do) changed their sound dramatically on this record. And although the album is good, it is a far cry from their strong debut.
Gone are the crunching guitar chords from their previous album, on which tracks like "21st Story Love Affair" and "Time Bomb" echoed the edgier moments of a cross between Nickleback and Jimmy Eat World.
But the album art, which features the band decked out in fluorescent glam outfits, is a telling tale of what is to come. This album is more electro-pop, and the edge is all gone. There are some catchy songs, in particular the ballad "You and I Tonight" and the hit single "Get Up and Dance." Aside from a wretched cover of the Cars' "Just What I Needed," the album hits the mark....but one wonders why the band changed the formula of what worked so well before.
This sounds more like Metro Station than it does a straightforward rock album, which their debut for the most part was. If you like that change, then you will find the songs here quite pleasing and embrace the album.
If you prefer the sound on "Seven Second Surgery," just be warned that this sounds like a different band altogether. The debut album sounded as if it were a labor of love that took a long time to write and record. This album, though well done, sounds like it was whipped together in about 3 hours. But it's a matter of taste. Again, the songs are pretty good....but as a professional writer and music critic, I don't take this band as seriously as I once did."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1