Artist: Tim Cullen
Album: Fun Razor
Label: Long Live Crime Records
Tracks: 12
Length: 38:17
Review by: Phil Nichols

Who is Tim Cullen and why should I care about him?
Well, my friends, those are excellent questions. First things first: Tim Cullen is the former frontman of the now defunct band Summercamp. In their seven years of existence they toured with the likes of Ben Kweller, Third Eye Blind, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, and Nerf Herder. In 2002, when the band disbanded, Tim decided to continue writing music as a solo artist. His labors came into fruition this year with the release of Fun Razor on Long Live Crime Records.

What does Fun Razor sound like?
Essentially, Fun Razor is like a long lost Summercamp album. The songs feature structures, lyrics, and music that are very similar to Summercamp's debut, Pure Juice. The songs have a lot of energy, but do not stray from the same formula throughout the disc, which can get a little tiresome after awhile. Similarly, while there are some nice hooks over the thick layers of distorted guitars, the same pop-rock progressions are used on most of the songs, which sounds bland with repeated listens.

There are a lot of cameos made by friends in other bands. Mischa Feldman (Summercamp), Tony Sevener (Summercamp), Luke Tierney (Silver Jet, Penfifteen Club), and Ben Pringle (Nerf Herder) all make guest appearances throughout the album. The production is also very well done as it was produced and engineered by Thom Flowers (The Ataris, Sugarcult).

Should I buy Fun Razor?
That depends. If you are a fan of Summercamp or just enjoy the simple-yet-fun sound of bands like Nerf Herder and Toad the Wet Sprocket, then you may enjoy Tim Cullen's newest offering. However, if the above bands make you want to cause bodily harm to innocent passersby, then (for their sake) stay away from this one.