Record Review: The Fags - “Light ‘Em Up” (Idol Records)
Normally when a press release says something like “the natural successors to the Beatles” or some such tripe I kind of blow it off with a roll of the eyes but every once in awhile there is something to these comparisons. The Fags have been billed as a natural successor to Cheap Trick and dammit, if that is not an apt description.
Power pop with a bit of a raunchy edge, The Fags are a power pop trio from Detroit that have managed to combine some amazing hooks, 3 part vocal harmonies and just all around great songs to make their debut CD “Light ‘Em Up” a natural to blast out on that Saturday night party when the neighbors have headed to the mountains for the weekend and that girl you like has finally made herself….available if only you’d call. Starting with the instantly catchy “Tonight” and the first single “Rockstar” this is the kind of rock and roll that demands continuous plays as soon as it is popped into the CD player and doesn’t let up until the last of the 11 tracks drifts off into the haze.
The band has a refreshing take on rock and roll. They somehow seem to think that rock and roll was at one time “fun” and that radio was “cool” and the music played was adventurous and exciting and begged to be played loud. How dare they think such rebellious thoughts! The Fags are showing that rock and roll doesn’t have to take itself too seriously, not when they are producing songs like this, songs that just make you want smile from ear to ear, grab another cold one and connect with that girl who only just now realizes what exquisite taste you have in music.
Later.
