FM Static [Dear Diary]
Posted March 24, 2009
By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
What’s the difference between FM Static and Thousand Foot Krutch? Singer-songwriter Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine lead both bands, but the former is a side project to the latter. More than anything, having two names makes it easier to take some fun creative chances. Like pursuing the idea for a concept album where every lyric is the innermost thought of a soul-searching teenager. When that spark of inspiration entered Trevor’s head last year while TFK was on tour with Skillet, he knew Dear Diary was a perfect job for FM Static. This album is totally creative and so incredibly catchy, it reminded me of some of the best punk rock impact albums of the past 15 years, including Weezer’s “Blue Album”, Relient K’s “Mmhmm” and Plain White T’s “All That We Needed”. The album caught me off guard as I have “What Are You Waiting For?” and “Critically Ashamed” and consider them more guilty pleasure type punk rock albums, similar to Relient K’s first three albums leading to the critically acclaimed “Mmhmm”.
The first song “Boy Moves to a New Town with Optimistic Outlook” introduces the never-named star who hopes to find something or someone worth living for. Over a punk tempo and pop melody he wonders: “What will we leave behind but the pages of our life? “ I can’t stop listening to this song and it has the most catchy bridge and chorus I’ve heard in this genre in many years. The next song “The Unavoidable Battle of Feeling on the Outside” drills into the psyche with a simple guitar riff and his simple social truth: “I’m not an idiot, but I feel like one a lot.” You have to listen to the whole album in sequence and I recommend having the lyrics handy as you’ll most likely find yourself singing along at the top of your lungs as you follow along with this very hook-filled album, one of my top albums of 2009. Some other highlights for me are “The Voyage of Beliefs”, which is an amazing duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia Brock where the characters both step up in faith, proclaiming a belief in God that is their own, not just the one their families have handed down. Also, Dear Diary’s first single, “Take Me As I Am” is another highlight.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Although this is a surefire hit for the younger audience, I highly recommend Dear Diary for all fans of the punk rock genre, like myself. Trevor’s songwriting and singing is top notch and for me, this is my new “Blue Album” by Weezer, which was the soundtrack album of my twenties when I wasn’t saved. I love that Christian themed punk rock can sound this amazing!
Rating: 9.4 out of 10 (94%, A)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
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