Fair

The Best Worst-Case Scenario

Tooth and Nail Records

12 Tracks

44:59

 

          I was a huge fan of Rose Blossom Punch as well as Aaron Sprinkle’s solo work, especially his Moontraveler album.  When I heard that he was fronting a new band called Fair, I was inevitably excited.  His sweet and sassy vocals over electric guitars just have a soothing feeling to me.  They are familiar as well as smart. 

It’s no great secret that Sprinkle is an amazing producer, however, a lot of his work lately has had the same feel to it.  I guess you could say the same of the Fair album.  It has a familiar Aaron Sprinkle feel to.  The thing is, that since it actually is his band, this doesn’t take anything away from the album.  If anything it adds to it, giving it a sense of ownership.  My great hope is that Fair becomes a touring band instead of just the occasional side project for Sprinkle while slaving away at the Compound.

Eric Newbill, Nick Barber, and Joey Sanchez round out the band.  Sprinkle’s definitive guitar style and writing abound throughout the album’s twelve tracks.  “Carelessness” is a great pop rock song harkening back to the days of Poor Old Lu with a bit more harmony in the backing vocals.  It will definitely find it’s way onto fan favorites lists.  The song ends with those trademark Sprinkle lead lines once again.

“The Dumbfound Game” strongly reminds me of the aforementioned Rose Blossom Punch, which for me is a great thing.  The lyrics are vague as to what they are talking about, as are most of the album’s tracks.  This opens the meaning up for interpretation by each individual listener and causes people to actually think about what they are hearing instead of being spoon-fed the meaning.  

 

“It’s just a simple mistake.  Tomorrow I won’t relate.  I only wonder if the question remains.  Could someone show me how to feel?  Take heart, be still?”

 

This is an album that makes you think.  You have to work for your enjoyment of the lyrics.  The music is simply enjoyable rock.  It’s not masterfully complicated for the most part but due to the skill with which it is done, makes for a great listen.  The song “Pause” with its great use of keys building to a split guitar/key solo is quite a number. 

          “Cutdown Sideways” has a bit of, dare I say it, an Oasis feel as well as a bit of an old school Beetles aura to it.  The lyrics have a dark and pleading feel to them, which is in contrast to the beat and feel of the prechorus.  It makes for a nice dichotomy and treats the ears.

         

“Oh my love, don’t push it like the way we used to.  Even if you get far, don’t go far without me.”

 

Overall, this album is trademark Aaron Sprinkle rock.  Poor Old Lu fans have a habit of buying and loving anything the former members of the band have put out.  With this release they have one more thing to be happy about.  The album is enjoyable and its lyrics are mines from which many rich meanings may be extracted.  The feeling of the music gets me excited for fall.  Get yourself a copy and feel it for your self.