Name: Fake Problems
Release: It’s Great To Be Alive
Label: SideOneDummy
Year: 2009
Rating: 5/5

When it comes to Fake Problems it’ll go one of two ways for you. You’ll either clutch your ears and declare that lead singer Chris Farren’s voice is way too throaty and screechy for you, or you’ll love the vocals to death. Bit like Marmite. But there is something very bizarrely addictive about this guy’s voice. It’s so shouty, and yet it’s definitely melodic. But while the off-beat vocals lend a uniqueness to Fake Problems’ music, there are other aspects that make this album very impressive overall. To start with, they are actually exponents of some properly catchy melodies, as witness ‘The Dream Team’. Along with decent guitar riffs, it’s a great combination for indie rock classics.

But one of the best things about the album is the sheer variety of instrumentation. They have made the effort to find other sounds, and they have succeeded. It’s wonderful to see that some bands aren’t happy just to settle for the norm in their music, and there’s a great orchestral quality throughout the album. Oh, it’s just so… musical.

There’s enough individuality here to be very promising for the future, particularly given that Fake Problems pride themselves on growing with the creation of every album.

– Sophie Carville