Fake Problems - It's Great to be Alive

Artist: Fake Problems

Album: It's Great to be Alive

Label: Side One Dummy

Over the past few years Side One Dummy has been signing and taking chances on what might initially seeming like obscure novelty bands.  First came the gypsy ramblings of Gogol Bordello, then the mexican melodies of Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, and just last year the southern washboard scrape of The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band.  Surprisingly, each of these gambles have paid off, but more importantly the arrangement has helped these bands more fully realize themselves in a top notch studio, probably thanks to the combination of a sizable recording budget and Side One Dummy's commitment to artist directed creativity.

That being said, Fake Problems have become a leading staple in the folk-punk underground since their inception four years ago - well before signing with Side One Dummy last fall.  Since 2005 the band claims to have never taken more than three months off from touring and recording.  Consequently, there has been a great consistency and natural evolution evident in the band's sound with each seemingly randomly released single, free EP, and full length album.  So when I heard that the rather unstructured but hard working Fake Problems had signed with the well established and polish-centric Side One Dummy, I was rather curious to see how the match-up would pan out.

Fortunately the combination has produced yet another fine addition to both Side One Dummy's catalogue and Fake Problems' discography.  Put simply, Fake Problems has crafted their most fully realized album to date.  From start to finish every song sounds in place and purposeful.   The addition of flourishing instruments like trumpets and pianos are explored naturally in true Fake Problems form.  

The opening track, "1234," harnesses the power of a sweeping backing brass section that immediately hooks the listener.  It's a short and hard hitting intro that gives It's Great to be Alive an immediate draw.  Throughout the album the band explores a variety of new genres, in addition to the traditional folk, country, and punk cornerstones that still dominate tracks like "Dream Team" and "Don't Worry Baby."  But throughout most of the album the band also dabbles with various other genres.  "You're a Serpent, You're a She Snake" and "Diamond Rings" shockingly draws upon danceable disco beats - but even more shocking, the result is just as infectious as tunes by disco-punk bands like Men, Women, or Children or Panic! At the Disco.

But the masterful integration of once foreign genres doesn't stop there.  Tracks like "Level with the Devil" sound reminiscent of gypsy punkers Gogol Bordello, and others like "Alligator Assassinator" throw in a touch of swing for a real dancehall body shaker.  What allows Fake Problems to draw upon such a breadth of sound is their firm command over their core mechanics.  Stylistic switches between songs feel natural and organic, with Chris Farren's vocals providing a coarse continuity.

Joining the big leagues of the independent world really payed off for Fake Problems.  An increased budget clearly helped them explore their sound with more clarity and direction.  And despite exploring quite a few new genres, every song sounds natural and in place.  There's no doubt that with It's Great to be Alive, Fake Problems have crafted one of the first great punk albums of 2009.