HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016
May this New Year brings you more hooks than ever
•?((¯°·._.• ⓗⓐⓟⓟⓨ ⓝⓔⓦ ⓨⓔⓐⓡ •._.·°¯))؟•
FOOLS FACE - TELL AMERICA (1981)
From 1981, here’s one of the finest new wave power pop albums you’ve never heard of, and you’re not alone. Tell America, the second long-player from Springfield Missouri’s finest, Fools Face. I take that back – you might’ve heard of ‘em if you read Trouser Press or Creem back in the day – they shouted Fools Face from the rooftops but no one listened. And no one bought. So finding these original albums today is a whole lot harder than, say, the first two Knack albums and this is much better. If you dig those first two Knack albums, or the Shoes, or 20/20, Marshall Crenshaw, XTC and Elvis Costello for that matter, chances are you’ll really dig Fools Face. Sure, they’re no longer around to take your ticket money, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to know you got there eventually. 30 years later.
If the Beatles had survived into the 80’s with their dignity intact, they might’ve sounded like this. “American Guilt” even quotes the Fab Four: “When push comes to shove, all we need is love.” But all hippie sentimentality is confined solely to the lyrics - the music is pure unadulterated guitar pop, the purity of which you could ONLY find in the smack-dab middle of America - Springfield Missouri - where the disco electro nightclub and new romantic import scene hasn’t infiltrated. “Maiden USA” is not only a great title, but a stone-cold power pop new wave GEM, with a monster guitar riff that any of those fancy major label bands would’ve killed for. “Behind Bars” is a bouncy new wave dance tune at breakneck speed with paranoid nerd rock vocals that sound a lot like Devo (who were middle America too) and the herky jerky skittish rhythms of XTC (who were middle UK I guess). “Valentine” is a solid slice of Knack-alike pop, but with a much more paranoid and ominous undercurrent than anything the happy-go-lucky “My Sharona” boys could ever muster. And “L5” is perhaps the single GREATEST lost power pop hit of the 80’s, a breathtaking catchy slice of pounding power pop about space colonization that should have been a standout track on one of those Just Can’t Get Enough CDs. It wasn’t, of course, and despite this being one of the best pop albums of the decade, so few people have heard it today, and it ain’t even out on CD, those bastids. Tell America is not just a title, it’s a request. And with pop music in a more sorry state than ever today, it’s your civic duty. So go on, Tell America how great Fools Face was. Better late than never.
If the Beatles had survived into the 80’s with their dignity intact, they might’ve sounded like this. “American Guilt” even quotes the Fab Four: “When push comes to shove, all we need is love.” But all hippie sentimentality is confined solely to the lyrics - the music is pure unadulterated guitar pop, the purity of which you could ONLY find in the smack-dab middle of America - Springfield Missouri - where the disco electro nightclub and new romantic import scene hasn’t infiltrated. “Maiden USA” is not only a great title, but a stone-cold power pop new wave GEM, with a monster guitar riff that any of those fancy major label bands would’ve killed for. “Behind Bars” is a bouncy new wave dance tune at breakneck speed with paranoid nerd rock vocals that sound a lot like Devo (who were middle America too) and the herky jerky skittish rhythms of XTC (who were middle UK I guess). “Valentine” is a solid slice of Knack-alike pop, but with a much more paranoid and ominous undercurrent than anything the happy-go-lucky “My Sharona” boys could ever muster. And “L5” is perhaps the single GREATEST lost power pop hit of the 80’s, a breathtaking catchy slice of pounding power pop about space colonization that should have been a standout track on one of those Just Can’t Get Enough CDs. It wasn’t, of course, and despite this being one of the best pop albums of the decade, so few people have heard it today, and it ain’t even out on CD, those bastids. Tell America is not just a title, it’s a request. And with pop music in a more sorry state than ever today, it’s your civic duty. So go on, Tell America how great Fools Face was. Better late than never.
NEVER REISSUED ON CD
Special note: The album includes the usual set of custom artwork.
The vinyl transfer was made last summer during vacation when my old
mate Peter came by my beautiful countryside with a pile of scarce LP's.
lossy: ZS (320 mp3 lame 3.99 - 122mb)
Songs
1 American Guilt 3:12 / 2 Maiden U.S.A 2:18 / 3 Whatever 3:04 / 4 Land Of The Hunted 3:18 / 5 Stand Up 2:44 / 6 Behind Bars 1:58 / 7 Telephone Time 3:23 / 8 L5 3:47 / 9 (Gotta Get) A Letter To You 3:00 / 10 Won't Make It Hard For You 3:04 / 11 Valentine 3:17 / 12 Bop Man 2:08 / 13 Nothing To Say 1:57 / 14 The Truth 2:00
1 American Guilt 3:12 / 2 Maiden U.S.A 2:18 / 3 Whatever 3:04 / 4 Land Of The Hunted 3:18 / 5 Stand Up 2:44 / 6 Behind Bars 1:58 / 7 Telephone Time 3:23 / 8 L5 3:47 / 9 (Gotta Get) A Letter To You 3:00 / 10 Won't Make It Hard For You 3:04 / 11 Valentine 3:17 / 12 Bop Man 2:08 / 13 Nothing To Say 1:57 / 14 The Truth 2:00
