Album Review: Fight Fair – California Kicks
Apparently San Diego’s Fight Fair have sought to create a cross between the Beach Boys and the Ramones, perhaps no-one told them what an incredibly terrible decision this would be, but let me use the space I have to categorically state just how woefully this has worked for them. This album is an affront to my ears. The album opens with the stereotypical 'California Girls', a song so incredibly generic that it would best be suited to being played in an elevator. Unfortunately the album only goes downhill from there, the next two tracks are two of the worst I have heard in a long time. The simply embarrassing 'I’ve Got A Secret' reads like the “poetry” a 12 year old boy scribbles on the back of his school work: “I’ve got a secret/ I’ve got a secret/ I’ve got a crush on you”, while the preposterously titled 'SexyFancyMoney' is the bands attempt to muscle in on Justin Bieber’s territory, obviously a wise musical choice.
Fight Fair at least hit their target of musically emulating the rock of the 50s and 60s and the beach vibe is definitely present. It is possible that someone will find a place for this as a summer album, ultimately disposable but good for a short season. In this way they do deserve some credit, if they set out to be a 1950s tribute act then well done Fight Fair, but you cannot say much more in their favour. As soon as you try to go beneath the saccharine sweet musical style there only exists a vacuous and hollow centre of lyrical awfulness and the musical maturity of a pre-pubescent. At least Wavo Beech works solely as an ode to summer, a tribute to the bands favourite beach, clearly a fair-weather song, but perhaps the least musically offensive on the album.
It is difficult to reconcile that Triple Crown Records once put out some of my favourite albums by Brand New, Northstar and Hot Rod Circuit and have to sunk to distributing this. It almost has no redeeming features as nearly every song has something on it to render it virtually unlistenable. From 'I’ve Got A Secrets'’ ridiculous rapping in the middle 8, to the cringe worthy opening of 'Backseat Bingo'.
There is little to commend this album for, if you want a showcase for some of the worst lyrics and most irritating musicianship around at the moment this could be the album for you. Otherwise just avoid it and move on with your life, you aren’t missing out on anything.
1/5
'California Kicks' by Fight Fair is released on June 29th through Triple Crown Records.
Fight Fair on MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook.
Nick Robbins
