The Fall-Outs--Summertime
Estrus 2004
When a band returns with a new album after having been away for years, it can be problematic. Will the old magic still be there and will anyone care if it is? Based on the quality of this new album, Summertime, none of that looks to be a question for the Fall-Outs. This whole thing sounds sure to earn them the respect they deserve.
For those unfamiliar with the Fall-Outs sound, it's an unpolished garage pop similar to bands like the Cynics and Young Fresh Fellows. Also, there is a slight hint of quirk to this music which should make it appeal to fans of XTC's best output. Summertime has a melancholy tint running through it, giving the album an epic, soaring type feel. It's remarkable this stuff isn't on every mainstream alt/rock radio station in the country, as immediate as it all is.
True to form, the Fall-Outs come through with another superb batch of tunes--it's like they never went away. From the opening strains of "What Does That Make You" to Summertime's closer, "One And One," there isn't a single instance of failure in the songwriting department. It's an incredibly consistent set, especially considering the huge gap of time between albums for the band.
From the truest of fans to the newest converts, Summertime provides ample reason to celebrate. Very few bands these days are able to bring everything together and make this style work the way the Fall-Outs have done here. It only makes their return that much sweeter. Let's hope the wait between this and the next album isn't so long. Summertime sounds destined for big things.
Score this CD directly from ESTRUS
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