Foreign Born - Person to Person (Secretly Canadian)
3/5
By: Stephen Maughan
According to current indie darlings, Grizzly Bear, what we have here is pretty much the best band there is out there at the moment. Before you all rush off to buy this, let me just say all weekend l have been listening to Person to Person, and I wouldn't advise spending an evening at the Bear house listening to their favourite records.
I get the feeling this record is going to get good reviews. It's made by very talented musicians who play the thumping and polished stadium rock tracks with a certain grace lacking in many of today's more successful rock acts. The ten songs here are all smooth, likeable, and uplifting showcases of how good Foreign Born can play their instruments and write intelligent rock songs.
Sounds great, right? Yes, it is if you are a musician who appreciates the effort and hard work it goes into making these songs. Or if you're a jaded music critic wondering why the kids of today just can't write "proper tunes" like the good old days of Cream, early Neil Young, Big Star, or even Dire Straits. Let me be clear, this band sounds nothing like those people, but Person to Person would sit snugly alongside these at your local record nerd's bedroom, no doubt in original vinyl to get the "better" sound.
Person to Person is one of those annoying 'musician' records. You sit in their bedroom as they excitedly play you this album. They nod their head in time with the catchy guitar hooks with their eyes closed, as they wonder with excitement quite how that humble model of guitar was tuned to get this brilliant effect. Meanwhile you sit there, and look out of the window wondering if you will be home in time to catch Neighbours.
The problem I have with Foreign Born is not that this isn't a particularly exciting album, nor that it contains faultless anthems. It certainly isn't that these musicians are not extremely talented. The problem is there is no edge to this release. I'm not saying all bands need to play the experimental card, after all a record like Neil Young's After the Goldrush is also faultless, but the difference is Neil Young, and countless others, have a distinctive style with a rather poetic and considered voice with something to say.
Still, being a music critic I can't ignore the fact this is a beautifully played modern rock album. 'Early Warnings' and 'Can't Keep Time' demonstrate Foreign Born at their best, and the stars given below reflect their craftsmanship. Still it is not enough. Foreign Born, at least on the basis of this record, have little to say except to let us know what wonderful, technical musicians they are. They are scientists in a laboratory who have come up with the perfect musical formula, without a hair out of place. But give me a band with an intoxicating mix of passion, sweat, and tears. For I'm looking for a band with less brain and more balls. Or at least a more subtle combination of the two.
Artists in this article: Foreign Born
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