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Music Review: "The
Faults"
By Kevin Gibson
LEO
July 25,
2001
"The Faults"
(Lynn Point
Records)
Listening to the three remaining V-Roys
following Scott Miller's departure enables one to break
down that band into a pair of distinct musical
personalities. This illustrates -- especially if you've
heard Miller's new work -- just how talented the V-Roys
were.
It also becomes easier to classify the two
now-separated parts: Basically, Miller provided the
V-Roys' twang, and Mic Harrison contributed the edgy
rock sound, and their split has left us with one
alt-country unit and one straight ahead roots-rock
act.
This isn't necessarily bad, especially if
you'd rather have two very good bands than one great
one. And the Faults are a good band. Resembling an early
Smithereens record, The Faults comes on with an almost
scientifically deliberate approach. At times the
execution of the disc is almost too calculated, but to
the casual listener it will work to good
effect.
Like in his V-Roys days, Harrison quickly
presents us with another story about another girl who
just flat blew him away (assuming this stuff is
autobiographical, that is). "Dishonest Jenny" no doubt
is the cousin to "Amy 88" from the V-Roys' final album,
and it's a pretty basic tale of a manipulative bitch who
gets her comeuppance.
I don't mean that as
criticism. "Jenny" is all-American rock 'n' roll, and if
you don't find yourself humming it after a couple of
listens, then the truth is you probably aren't human and
therefore have no soul. Please go back to where you came
from.
Harrison mixes in down-tempo numbers
amongst the many hard-driving guitar-pop blasts,
sprinkling various cultural influences to keep it
interesting. "Whispering Goodbye," for instance, is one
that will have you scratching your head, saying, "Where
have I heard this before?" Best not to analyze; just
enjoy its catchiness.
The whole album is sort of
this way -- maddeningly familiar, comfortably enjoyable.
As I said, don't overanalyze. Just relax and dig
Harrison's storytelling and the band's tight playing.
After all, it's only rock 'n' roll. Like
it.
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