Being called a bar band is not necessarily a bad thing---after all, John Mellencamp's made millions of dollars channeling his "three chords and the truth" style to the radio airwaves and hockey arenas of the world. Gritty, sweaty, and inching towards the moment when the bouncers start clearing the room at closing time, the Faults walk the same side of the street as Mellencamp, and others of that particular genre. Although what works in front of a half-drunk audience may not quite translate to plastic, the Faults are a no-frills rock 'n' roll band who occasionally hit on the right combination of fire power and hooks, as on "Dishonest Jenny", a track that might make itself home on any Wilco album. Other numbers like "Big Show" and "Watertown" owe more of a debt to napalm rockers like the MC5 while "Whispering Goodbye" is a nod towards honky-tonk country. As it is, this album might sound best if bought from the stage as a souvenir at the end of a Faults gig. They'd probably be happy to autograph it for you as well. ---- Brad Harvey