Published on Jun 17, 2005
The Fame had one hurdle to get over with me from the
start… that uber-cheesy name. Granted, they’re basically a
high-energy, melodically-conscious garage rock band, so they almost
had to be called “The
Something“… but really, “The Fame”? I kept looking
around for Irene Cara or Debbie Allen, and neither one is anywhere
to be found on this disc.
Instead what you get is a power-pop quartet that’s obsessed with
and descended from such genre luminaries as The Romantics, The
Cars, The Go-Gos, The Replacements, The Gin Blossoms, (Tom Petty
&) The Heartbreakers, and, well, I guess I’d better just get
past the name thing, huh? The more I listen, the more it fits. As
the trusty bio sheet says, “Three minute songs. Two guitars. One
vision. Seems like a simple enough equation.” It is, and it’s
executed here with steady energy and panache by Reno Bo (vocals
& guitars), Ryan Daniels (guitar & vocals), Patrick Wood
(drums & vocals) and Alana Amram (bass & vocals).
Title cut “Get On The Beat” starts this disc off on a hot
streak, barreling into you on the strength of hammering riffs, big,
meaty power-pop hooks and a sing-along chorus. Appealing stuff, all
of it, and the only real flaw to this album is that it really is
just as simple as that. No keyboards, no strings, no mid-tempo
thought pieces or slow dreamy ballads or blues or folk or country
inflections anywhere, anyhow — just a straight six-pack of
high-energy, steady-riffing, shout-it-out-loud three-minute
rockers.
All right, there is a bare hint of variety. “Come On” slows
things down slightly, though it still features prominent, heavy
riffs and good vocal intensity. And “Easy On You” is a little more
expansive than your average power-pop, what with its nimble guitar
solo and instrumental rave-up close.
Still, it all seems a little one-dimensional to me after
listening to some of the more adventurous bands out there
today… but I suppose it’s also refreshing in a way. These
guys (and gal) have a mission, and they dive into it with passion
and commitment. They’re not trying to be anything other than what
they are — a party-in-your-back-yard-after-high-school-gets-out
kind of power-pop band. The end result isn’t going to change the
world, but you can sure as hell dance to it — and there’s nothing
wrong with that.
[Visit The Fame at
www.the-fame.com]