It would seem the jury is already out on Cali post-hardcore quintet Foolproof. It’s not that they’re a bad band, at least they don’t seem to be, but the purists have already taken a dislike to them because of an appearance on an MTV battle of the bands contest. The basic premise of the programme appeared to show a number of bands fighting it out to win a deal with major label Island Records. Each week, on the programme ‘Breaking Point’, viewers would see who was to make the grade, and who wasn’t. Rather bizarrely The Holiday Plan, already snapped up by a subsiduary of Island, where on the show which led to more than a few raised eyebrows. Cue even more furry brows when an American band won a British show for a record deal. It could be said that Foolproof are already fighting a losing battle.
The truth, however, is the show was little more than a cleverly edited programme. The bands involved claimed not to know that they were in competition and it merely made good (allegedly) viewing. No matter which side you believe, the end result is that Foolproof netted a record deal with the label – and their first release is this single. With the knives already out Foolproof could easily fall into the trap and be blown out for it, but ‘Paper House’ is a decent enough slab at the post-hardcore genre to suggest they’ll be more than one-hit wonders. More Hoobastank than the Taking Back Thursday‘s of this world, Foolproof show they have an ear for a melody, albeit a well polished one. But, as they say, you can’t polish a turd, so there’s clearly something in the tank to attract repeat listens. After all, the lead-off single, and b-sides, do have the knack of staying in your head for longer than they probably should.
Sadly for Foolproof, in the short term at least, they’re going to have to shed the tag of MTV-wannabes before they’ll be taken seriously. It’s a shame as there’s enough talent to see why Island would be interested, but until they’ve managed to ride the toilet circuit and get their name out the way most bands do to start their careers, I’m afraid the jury will remain out…
www.myfoolproof.com
Island Records
Paul