White Boy Disaster ('Fashionably Late' by Falling in Reverse)
 |
| Hey! You'll fall forward. Get down from there, asshole!! |
Yeesh... So it's come to this, now. Recall that A.H.M hiatus announcement. Assuming the role of a negative Nancy sometimes is key. No pussyfooting, yeah? There's this one album I've had stuck on repeat – it sucks ass, yet isn't a complete bore (unlike myself). Fashionably Late justifies THAT distinction.
Recognized as fabled rivals to Escape the Fate, Falling in Reverse knows not the meaning of intelligence, class or respect. They're fronted by a pompous, pissy and puerile singer in Ronnie Radke, who composed the bulk of his current band's 2013 record. Kicking off as a pop punk-meets-melodic metalcore act with The Drug in Me Is You, FiR's second offering slashes their "mainstreamo" charm, the group firm in their efforts to pull off whatever the hell they believe will shatter expectations. The band's whirl at cross-pollination nets confusing results AND god complexes.
Between the awkward EDM-isms, routine formula, misplaced breakdowns and foot-in-mouth inelegance Radke's lyricism packs, going to bat for Fashionably Late is a test – only to become a much bigger nightmare when its hip hop detours are factored. ...You read that right. 5 of the 12 songs featured provide Radke an opportunity to spit fire, often accompanied by electro and also crunktastic instrumentals. The man's cleans present a very annoying cadence about them without fail while his screams are comically gruff. Neither is undesirable next to his cartoonish rap flow – serving to make numbers such as Alone iconic, but for the wrong reasons.
Quibbles aside – of which there's many – count on Radke as a hook machine. As far back as his tenure with Escape the Fate, he's had an ear for melodies; Champion, t/t and Born to Lead is arguably Fashionably Late at its peak infectiousness and more. Jacky Vincent's guitar leads add decent weight to both the record's heavier and poppier bits, while the electronics get a pass so long as the synth keeps to the background (i.e. NOT Game Over). The rest (Derek Jones; Ron Ficarro; Ryan Seaman) perform their tasks in a workmanlike way.
Multiple listens didn't paint the LP in a better light. Fashionably Late gives the impression of a slaphappy, self-important and stupid project – a sophomore entry from a band so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they SHOULD. Starring absurd references to Twitter, video games (evidently what Radke's life is like), dated Charlie Sheen shout outs and special guest brostep, it's an intriguing trainwreck with a couple alright moments. Gimme I'm Not a Vampire any day of the week over the stronger cuts here; ain't that a Falling in Reverse track worth advocating...
Comments
Post a Comment