Jealous Haters Since 1998!
Home | News | Reviews | Day In Rock | Photos | RockNewsWire | antiTainment Wire | Feeds

Fiction Plane - Left Side of the Brain Review


by Dan Upton

.
It's sort of appropriate that I would do a review of Fiction Plane around the antiVersary, given the first review. That was, of course, Big Dume's Inside My Head, fronted by the son of songwriter and record producer, wherein I raised the question of how relevant pedigree was to musical ability. Here we have that question again; in this case, Fiction Plane front man Joe Sumner is the son of none other than Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting. The circumstances are a little different for this CD, though: whereas Inside My Head was the band's debut CD and was promoted alongside a "reality" TV show starring the front man, Left Side of the Brain is the third studio recording and second full-length album from a band that's been around since 2000.

Incidentally, the pedigree shows through here as well, at least in Joe's vocals on many of the songs. It's perhaps not as noticeable on opening track "Anyone," but after hearing tracks like "Death Machine" and lead single "Two Sisters" I had to go look at the liner notes to make sure Sting wasn't doing guest vocals on the song. And hey, don't get me wrong, I like a lot of Sting's music, and the style fits very well in Fiction Plane's music rather than feeling forced to try to draw attention to themselves. Speaking of which, I really hate to use such a generic term, but really the best way I can categorize the music is just as alternative rock, or maybe alternative rock and jangle pop. It definitely has those sorts of jangly guitar sounds, on tracks like "Anyone" or "Death Machine." Songs like "It's a Lie" and "Presuppose" have licks that evoke The Police and older U2, although parts of "Presuppose" are also driven by a guitar riff that wouldn't sound out of place on a Cake album. Funky grooves also abound, frequently driven by the bass, on songs like "Death Machine" (yes, I've mentioned it three times now; yes, I like it a lot) or the darker groove of "Running the Country." Incidentally though, the high point of the CD is the stripped-down "Drink," consisting almost only of acoustic guitar and emotional, introspective vocals for most of the song.

Judging from the similarity in vocal styles, it would be easy to criticize this band as trying to ride on Sting's success to further their own career, but one listen should be enough to convince you of the strength of this band on their own merits. Unfortunately, they're on their third label, so it's any one's guess whether they'll be supported well enough to really continue on and get the attention they deserve. Such as it is, this is catchy alternative rock at its finest, and if you want a break from cookie-cutter emo, Nickelback clones, and generic indie music (a whole 'nother rant in itself), run out and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.


CD Info and Links

Fiction Plane - Left Side of the Brain
Rating:

Preview and Purchase This CD Online

Visit the official homepage

More articles for this artist

tell a friend about this review

.


...end




.
.
News Reports
.
Day in Rock:
Chickenfoot The Movie- Alice In Chains 2010 Tour Plans- Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown Team Up For Tour- Bonnaroo- Green Day Revamp and more

Yesterday's Report: 11/19: Aerosmith Members Fear Tyler May Be Back On Drugs- Bon Jovi Back On Top- Live Daughtry Webcast Tonight- Metallica Add to 2010 World Tour Plans and more

 Subscribe To Day in Rock

Quicks: Ringo, McCartney Duet- Fall Out Boy on Hiatus- Slash N' Adler Jam- The Analyst Guitarist Injured In Fall- Oscars Snub Anvil- Interpol Eye 2010 Release and more

Day in Pop 11/20: Taylor Swift Vs Bar- John Mayer To Beat Bon Jovi- Oprah Show No More- Susan Boyle Sets Record- Morrissey Vs Fan- Alicia Keys- Jay-Z and more


Your Ad Here for Just $10
.
 
Reviews
.

Road Trip: Ireland

Rock Reads: Bruce Springsteen: The Light in Darkness

SwampDaWamp - Rock This Country

Keith Urban Live in Chicago Nov 2009

The Official Heavy Metal Book of Lists

Megadeth Live

Hot In The City: Age of Evil, Triple Double Band, blessthefall and The Word Alive

On The Record: New Tales to Tell---A Tribute to Love & Rockets- Wax Tailor

The Fall Of Troy - In The Unlikely Event

Rammstein - Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da

KISS Live in Chicago Nov 2009

Creedence Clearwater Revival - The Singles Collection

Kelly Clarkson Live October 2009

Pithy Reviews: Karen O and the Kids (Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack), Lita Ford, Everclear, Beatallica, Livan, State Radio, and the Riverwinds

Death Row Rarities: Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

Bon Jovi - The Circle


.
.
.

Search for Tickets

Or Browse For Tickets

.
.
Today's News
.

Chickenfoot The Movie

Alice In Chains 2010 Tour Plans

Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown Team Up For Tour

Ringo, McCartney Duet- Fall Out Boy on Hiatus- Slash N' Adler Jam- The Analyst Guitarist Injured In Fall- Oscars Snub Anvil- Interpol Eye 2010 Release and more

Green Day Revamp 21 Guns With Idiot Musical Guests

Bonnaroo 2010

Bruce Kulick Taps Members Of KISS, The Knack, Motley Crue For New Album

Smile Empty Soul Announce Headlining Tour With Burn Halo (Ex-Eighteen Visions) & The Last Vegas

Metallica Member Quits- Slayer Blamed for Teen Slaying- High Schooler Threatens To Kill Rocker- Guns N' Roses Return- Ozzy Sitcom and more top stories from 2001

Nils Lofgren Discusses Springsteen Tour Finale

Crash Kings Hitting The Road With Rooney

The Devil Wears Prada Kick Off Napalm & Noise Tour

Warner Bros. Whip Up Some Deluxe Devo for the Holidays

Never Shout Never Acoustic Tour

Daryl Hall, John Oates and Cleveland

Cavo Winning Fans on Radio and on Tour with Daughtry

2009 Taco Bell Feed The Beat Program Winners Are Announce

Nebula Mini Tour

Wesley Willis DVD Set For Release

The Shambles Announce Free Release Party

Taylor Swift Vs Bar- John Mayer To Beat Bon Jovi- Oprah Show No More- Susan Boyle Sets Record- Morrissey Vs Fan and more

Alicia Keys Calls Fan To Digital Action

Idle Warship (Talib Kweli, Res & Graph Nobel) Offer Up Mixtape

Turkey, Football and Motown for Thanksgiving

Jay-Z Platinum State Of Mind

Two Brand New Black Sheep Projects Coming Soon

Eric Hutchinson EP Coming

Susan Boyle To Take Over Rockefeller Plaza

David Guetta Cleans Up For First U.S. Hit

Barry Harris Remixes Billie Myers

Charlie Alex March Set February Release

More News

Subscribe to Day in Rock Report by Email

.
 
Day in Rockers
. Sites that feature the Day in Rock

94WYSP PhillyKFLY Real Rock97.9 WCPR Biloxi107thebone.fmX92.5 FM Maui100.1 The EdgeRock 105.994.7 The End96.3 The Blaze104.9 The WolfKROQWTOS Pure Rock!trakkrz.com

.
 
anti Worthy Links
.
The Screen DoorLloyd Zeffler blogGary GonzoLonn FriendTalking MetalNightwatcher's House of RockCJ Chilvers: passionate music journalist and photographerDeja Voodoothecopycat.bizKeavin.comantiMusic Myspace

.
 
Merch
.

Posters and Rock T-Shirts!



 

Tell a Friend about this page - Contact Us - Privacy - antiMusic Email - Job Postings - Advertising

Copyright© 1998 - 2009 Iconoclast Entertainment Group All rights reserved. antiMusic works on a free link policy for reprinting of our original articles, click here for details. Please click here for legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use.