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Ultimate Fakebook Open
Up and Say Awesome
By: Rodney Skaggs (Lawrencerock.com writer) |
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Ultimate Fakebook’s long awaited follow-up to “This Will Be Laughing Week” is finally here. So “Open Up and Say Awesome” and don’t forget to bring your air guitar. "Open Up and Say Awesome” blasts off with no warning with the opening song “Wrestling Leap Year.” This early rock-out song is fast and filled with a powerful blend of vocals and a harder guitar sound. Next comes a classic sounding UFB song that happens to be the shortest track on the album, “The Scheme to Listen No More” at about a minute and a half. The next four songs are the backbone of this solid rock album. These four songs have the hooks and sing-along lyrics that we’ve come to expect from UFB. The third song “Inside You, Inside Me,” which moves from slow to fast in a blink of an eye, is optimistic and catchy. Then comes “Forever, Forever”, which is a classic love song that will undoubtedly be playing at all future indie-rocker weddings. The fifth track “When I’m With You I’m OK” is fast and adorable, being another optimistic sounding rock gem for Fakebook. Rounding out this clump of amazing songs is “Girl, Here’s Another Lie” which is a slower paced love ballad of sorts. Starting out “Girl, you’ve been my universe, but we’ve felt stuck in reverse…” This song is about the sadness involved in having to leave the one you love and not wanting to have to tell your better half. Bill McShane describes the feelings of a depressing winter by singing “Hey, December’s on its way, hide the scared look on my face, hang some Christmas lights and pretend that I’m okay…” The slower pace doesn’t take away any power from singer Bill McShanes honest voice and Eric Melins forceful drum beats. McShane really stands out from all other vocalists on “Girl…” with brilliant use of his high voice that most of us could only imitate if we had Ed Rose kicking us in the nuts while in the studio. On track 8 “Combat Fatigue” we are blessed with the guest backup vocals of Matt Pryor and the keyboard sounds of James Dewees from the Get Up Kids. Dewees also keys up “Forever, Forever” while the legendary Stephen Egerton of the Descendents pins the guitar solo on “Before You Leave”. Track 9 “Goddamn Dance Craze” is another song of UFB’s that pokes some fun at the mainstream music blob that most of us try to avoid. The slowest paced song on this record would have to be “Red Elbows” which starts out with an acoustic guitar and then the magic of Nick Colby’s bass and Melin’s drums blend in to make this song a sweet melodic masterpiece. It all comes to an end with the song “Popscotch Party Rock” which is just another reason why UFB are the kings of this style of pop-rock, the kind of rock-out songs that UFB is known for turning out. The lyrics on this album are some of the sweetest, strongest, and most honest lyrics you could ask for. UFB defiantly keeps their reputation as a powerful pop-rock outfit alive. This record will keep the road trip a little less long; the mixed tape a little more rockin’, and the party going all night. Rodney Skaggs
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