A Day At The Fair "The Rocking Chair Years" (Rushmore)
By
Thursday. Jun 16, 1:39 AM
Under-developed and dull.

I wasn't too impressed with this record. The majority of the songs sound under-developed, as if A Day At The Fair were in the process of discovering a new sound but put a record together at the last minute due to being pressed for time. It sounds as if it was difficult for them to nail a consistent style. However, looking on the brighter side of things, the vocals are very unpolished – which would normally be considered a bad attribute – excusable here because of the heart-felt lyrics. In a way, the imperfect vocals make the songs feel more real and down to earth: a chance for the fans to feel more connected to the music (not to mention a relief after hearing so many vocals pitch corrected with ProTools).

Overall, the songs are very basic. Nothing really stood out in my mind, making me want to sit down and listen to the record again at a later date. The incorporation of the piano and violin is a nice addition to the typical guitar, bass, and drums routine, giving off a sound comparable to The All-American Rejects. Unfortunately, it lacks a lot of structure and comes off as extremely dull. I feel as if the band is trying to avoid falling into any cliches or scenes, but are being a bit too cautious in the process. Perhaps it's better to check out the band's older material before picking up a copy of The Rocking Chair Years.
www.adayatthefair.com
www.rushmorerecords.com

Nina Hichak

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