Review Summary: "Holy Ghost on fire, conform to my desires, burn a trail from me to shore"
Hot summer temperatures call for big summer albums. Despite being released in November of last year, From Me to Shore has stepped up to the challenge of these incredibly hot days we're facing. Where it lacks in length, it makes up in quality.
Fellow American is a five-piece alternative band from Lubbock, Texas. Despite the success of
Buddy Holly, Lubbock isn’t exactly considered an alternative rock oasis. However, Fellow American does supply a glimmer of hope for Lubbock’s music scene and beyond.
The members don’t seem interested in fitting into any particular sound or genre. Instead, they work to blend styles that creates spontaneity through all 6 tracks. The band is great at adding influences from other genres
(such as the trumpet solo on Monkey in the Middle) that fit seamlessly into each track. This young band have already established the two frontman role exceedingly well and it is one of their best features. The two lead singers, Clint and Aaron, work with interlacing vocals that remind me of
Mayday Parade during their Jason Lancaster era.
Because I write this review with constructive criticism in mind, it wouldn't be fair for my only critique to be the short playing time of 22 mins (although that is my biggest complaint). I would like to see more tracks like Black Ice that are full of layers and that have a moving dynamic that keeps the listener guessing. The swells and dips on that song require you to latch on and pay attention. Some of the more simple songs feel more like a solo project than an entire band effort. But the last 2 songs on the album (Black Ice & Play God) have a sound that gets the entire band involved and orchestrated.
Overall, this record accomplishes what it set out to. An uplifting sound that doesn’t sacrifice the integrity of the message. This band excels at taking darker topics and shinning some light on the subject. It’ll be on repeat for me this summer!
