Review: Faces On Film - Elite Lines
[Fenway; 2014]
Rating: 5/10
By Cortney Willis, Staff Writer
Key Tracks: “Your Old One,” “Elite Lines”
Boston native Mike Fiore, under the pseudonym Faces on Film, follows up 2011’s Some Weather with the short album Elite Lines, composed of all of eight tracks.
Some Weather proved that Fiore is a talented songwriter, easily composing impressive and intricate instrumental backings for his vocals, which are only sub-par on the record.
Fiore has called his music “a blend of woodsy folk, pastoral indie rock, heartfelt alt-country, ‘60s British invasion, rootsy Americana and western.” This is all true, and it is all done well…except for the whole singing part of it all.
Elite Lines continues in the same instrumental vein as Some Weather, but unfortunately Fiore’s vocals sound even worse. If one imagines Chris Martin of Coldplay’s voice with far too much reverb, one will have an idea of what Fiore’s voice sounds like on his latest album.
As rock music and hip-hop have proved over the years, good vocals aren’t always necessary for good music. Fiore, however, creates such harmonious instrumental music with fierce, noticeable rhythm sections that his music deserves better vocals than those that he alone can provide.
Opening track “Percy” features a catchy underlying beat and utilizes various percussive instruments for a quirky touch. The music is powerful and sometimes enchanting, but Fiore’s vocals are so monotone that the listener has to tune him out to enjoy the song.
The short title track clocks in at just one minute and 13 seconds. It serves as an interlude, and would be better placed in the middle of the album rather than as the second track. It’s purely instrumental, and the lack of Fiore’s lackluster vocals make listening to it a pleasant experience.
“The Rule” has an easy-going, swingy feel. Its listener can easily imagine dancing breezily in a field with flowers in their hair, like in a ‘70s music video.
“Your Old One” is a better version of a song one might hear in an elevator at a medical office building. The pulsing guitar rhythm is relaxing, and Fiore’s monotone vocals actually work well on the track.
Elite Lines, like Some Weather, is an impressive musical body of work. If only Fiore would start a band and hire a better singer, he might have something truly great on his hands.
