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




.
.
Day In Rock Reports
.

09 So Far: Metallica Snub Dead Member- Country Singer Rejects Velvet Revolver Job Offer- No Chance of Full Van Halen Reunion and More Top Stories of Jan - March

07/02: Injury Sidelines Aerosmith?- Led Zeppelin, Josh Homme and Dave Grohl Supergroup- Paul Rodgers On Bad Company Reunion and Queen Partnership and more

07/01: Chickenfoot Member Seriously Injured- Alice In Chains Preview Album, Announce Tour Dates- Daughtry Hitting The Clubs- Lacuna Coil Tour and more

06/30: Pop Murder Blogger Cleared- Metallica Set Live DVD Release Date- Breaking Benjamin Working on New Album- Britney Death Hoax and more

 Subscribe


Your Ad Here for Just $10
.
.
News Quicks
.

Aerosmith Postpone More Shows Due To Mystery Injury- Evergreen Terrace Injury- Stone Temple Pilots Kick Off Tour- Michael Jackson Memorial and more

Musician Hit With Swine Flu- Smiths Turn Down 50 Million for Reunion- Zakk Wylde For Bones- Rick Astley Death Hoax- Bizkit Added To Linkin Metallica Fest and more

Cruefest Gets Loaded?- Seemless Breakup- Metal Fest Rained Out- Blink Finish New Song- Bon Jovi Stand By Iran- AC/DC Switch Date- Flaming Guests and more

.
 
Reviews
.

Devin Townsend - Ki

Absu / Rumpelstiltskin Grinder / Sothis / Afterlight Live

Chick Corea & John McLaughlin - Five Peace Band Live

Dark Castle - Spirited Migration

Michael Jackson: The Curtain Has Fallen on an Icon

Noism - +

First Look: Hoodless

Figure of Six - Aion

Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade

Fall Out Boy Photos

The Legends - Over and Over

Rock on the Range Festival Day 2 Photos

Hot In The City: Psychostick, Holy Rolling Empire, Crushed and Sugar High

Rock on the Range Festival Day 1 Photos

Queensryche - American Soldier

Rob Thomas Photos

The Very Best of Prestige Records

3 Doors Down Photos

MorleyView: UFO

Bon Jovi - These Days Album Reflection and Review: Part I

Street Sweeper Social Club

Lair of the Minotaur - War Metal Battle Master

Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know

Cold Northern Vengeance Interview


.
.
.

Search for Tickets

Or Browse For Tickets

.
.
Today's News
. 09 So Far: Top Stories of Jan - March

Metallica Snub Dead Member

Country Singer Rejects Velvet Revolver Job Offer

No Chance of Full Van Halen Reunion

Adler Says F**k Axl Rose

Artists Secretly Ripping Off Their Fans

Amy Winehouse Denies Fan Attack

Bad Company Feel Like Making A Comeback

U2 Ties Led Zeppelin Record

Monkees Star Has Cancer

Red Hot Van Hagar Supergroup Album Details

Motown Legend Dies

Teen Metal Fan Accused of Murdering Radio Journalist

24 Year Old Rocker Dies In His Sleep

80s Rocker Arrested For Threatening To Kill His Singer

Boston Leader Vs Fans

Blink-182 Return: Official Statement

Deftones Member In A Coma But Band Rocks On

Punk Legend Dies

Did Springsteen Rip Off KISS Song?

Nikki Sixx Spits On Female Fan

INXS Singer Now Homeless

Rihanna's Statement About Chris Brown Beating

Sublime Reunion?

Metal Pedophile Back In Jail

Rock Ruled Music In 2008: Biggest Sellers Revealed

Slipknot Show Fatal For Iowa Fan

U2 Accused of CD Art Theft

Miley Cyrus Metal Head?

Stooges Founder Dies

Metallica and Guns N' Roses Tour?

Osbourne Goes To Rehab

Rocker Killed By Drunk Driver

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!

.
 
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.