Albums

FICTION PLANE: Bitter Forces and Lame Race Horses

(Everybody’s Records) - from Fiction Plane's MySpace page:

Fiction Plane’s latest effort, the Bitter Forces and Lame Race Horses EP is in a word: infectious. In a mere four songs, Fiction Plane has managed to do what very few bands are capable of accomplishing: evading the sophomore blues that gives young bands the impression of one-trick ponies. And while the cynical music fan would deem two years too long an expanse between releases, Fiction Plane makes these four ultra-dynamic tracks worth the wait. The 2003 debut Everything Will Never Be Okay may have provided listeners to a taste of the wealth of musical dexterity and knowledge the guys were capable of, Bitter Forces...offers a more focused display of aural wisdom the band has to impart. Where the debut was a maelstrom of manic enthusiasm, Bitter Forces... is a progression in structured articulation, all the while retaining the band’s signature nod to energetic sarcasm. More centered on dramatic rock than free-form pop, Fiction Plane’s current direction is seemingly more serious in tone, but no less listenable. Each track is composed with such control and emphasis on excellent songwriting that one can easily replay the entire EP over and over again with equal enthusiasm. Like a favorite movie, Bitter Forces…yields an uncanny ability to warm its way into the listener’s head allowing repeated exposure without the fear of monotony. Perhaps it was the addition of vigorous drummer Pete Wilhoit, Joe Sumner’s amplified vocal expressionism, Seton Daunt’s development as a soulful guitarist, or Dan Brown’s effervescent dexterity as a bassist and keyboardist, but Fiction Plane has evolved into a dramatic, captivating, spirited rock band that many merely aspire to be. Assuredly, if this EP is this well executed, I await the next full-length with baited breath!--Mark Morton,Boyertown, PA,USA

from CMJ.com....

"Centered around biting guitar licks, soaring melodies and insightful lyrics that are just as likely to cry out socio-political commentary as they are to express innermost feelings of loneliness, rage and shame, Everything Will Never Be OK finds frontman Joe Sumner, bassist Dan Brown and guitarist Seton Daunt seething with an unfailing passion and unbridled energy. Arrangements are razor-sharp, but not over-produced; songs are dynamic, but still cohesive; and hooks abound, but are free from any pretension. Citing Fugazi, Jesus Lizard, Pavement, Nirvana and "every Seattle band that came out" as its primary influences, Fiction Plane takes all that is aesthetically pleasing with indie rock and crafts it into an album that is just as accessible to College Radio music elitists as it is to the casual listener. But don't make the mistake of calling it pop music...."

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from Billboard.com...

Shaggy, Moby, Fiction Plane, and Eagle-Eye Cherry are among the artists who have contributed songs to the soundtrack to Walt Disney Pictures' "Holes," based on the popular book of the same name. Due April 15 on Walt Disney Records, the set also includes songs by Eels, Keb' Mo', Dr. John, Devin Thompson, and the North Mississippi All-Stars, among others.

The Eels offer two previously unreleased songs, "Mighty Fine Blues" and "Eyes Down," while "If Only" is a track by Fiction Plane not found on the group's debut MCA album, "Everything Will Never Be OK."

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