Before I start this review, I just wanted to get something off my chest. While it’s admirable the band are releasing this album for £3 in a card case, I can’t for the life of me work out why they then intend to fully release it to the world. There’s no market for UK pop-punk bands in this country – although that’s a debate for another day – the majors don’t care for them when the US bands can waltz over and steal all their thunder. Surely going for a full release to begin with would have been better? Or maybe I’ve just missed the point!
Anyway, this is Fast Reaction‘s debut album and if you like Fall Out Boy, you will love this record. Vocalist Will Galloway sounds like a cross between Panic‘s Brendan Urie and FOB’s Patrick Stumpf – very polished, very American, very pop-punk. So if you’re in any way offended by schmaltzy, sugar-coated Yank-influenced pop-punk, turn away now. If you like it, however, you’ll love this. It’s one of the best UK efforts at taking the US on at their own game and I have no doubts that if Fast Reaction were a bunch of tanned So-Cal teens they’d be major label bound. Instead their four nice pale-skinned Brummies who won’t get the kudos this record deserves.
‘Weak Nights’ and ‘Out of the Race’ excel, two fantastic songs which could feature in the background of one of those MTV ‘rich girl meets boy from the wrong side’ programmes that clutter the Sunday evening schedules. To be honest most of the songs here are great; they’ve sorted the formula of writing catchy riffs and hooks and just filled each song with a massive singalong chorus. The production is super-slick too – as good as on any UK pop-punk record ever released.
The problem is that, especially in the floppy-haired ’emo’ climate, who will care about how good this band is? I’d sincerely love to be proved wrong, but I have a feeling this may well join the list of fantastic UK pop-punk records released this year (Fastlane, Short warning and Fleeing From Finales) which has criminally made little to no dint in the UK scene. Most PT-ers will love this, check it out now.