“Is this fun yet?” – well, I guess it would depend on what you’re playing. For the Pacific Northwest band from Portland, fawn, fun for them comes in different musical shades. An emo-rock quartet that is loud and distorted, and layered together with many genres, including punk, pop punk, rock and alternative. The band’s new EP, Is This Fun Yet? was recorded and mixed with the help of a local friend and mastered by Matthew Vanderbough in Nanda, Idaho. As you’ll find out, Is This Fun Yet? is raw, energetic and full of life. The band strives to make music that is real to their lives, music that speaks their thoughts and feelings. Their hope is that their musical efforts will shine through on their debut.
The first track “Scumsucking” is about scrounging around at 3 am for some cigarettes, or even just one cigarette that you don’t even want anymore. From what the next couple of lines implies, you come into work at 8 am and realize that you’re already late. One part of the lyrics reads as if someone is going through nicotine withdrawal, but then the mention of it being “cold in the garage, but it’s colder outside” suggests homelessness, maybe? Anyway, I try not to read too much into lyrics in general. Overall, the band’s raw energy was fantastic in this fast paced, two-minute opener. Next up is “ITFY” and it features a softer edge, taking on a more pop punk style. Plenty of low and high bass melodies, deep drum grooves, catchy guitar riffs and one hell of a guitar solo are some of the highlights to this track. Lyrically, the words suggest reaching a resolve or plan of action – “I think to keep us safe / we’ll have to go this way / I think to keep us sane / we’ll have to leave this place.” I like the chirping birds at the end of this track, too. “Lost Astronaut” starts off with hard rocking, low rumbling beat and lots of heavy guitar distortion. This song is about being lost in one’s head and thoughts, not really caring what others think, just asking them to “let me fall” because “I’ll figure it out one day.” The solo break to this song was awesome – a lot of power and emotion coming through. Moving on is “Cherry Trees” and it begins with a haunting, but soothing sounding vocal track. Then the band jumps into a catchy, rock guitar riff, a faster drum rhythm and some “whoa-ooh-ohh” backing vocals. In my opinion, this is perhaps fawn’s most emotionally charged song on the EP. Whether it’s a song about breaking up with a lover or cutting ties with a family member or a friend, or maybe even the person you used to be – giving yourself come slack and taking your own advice is usually a good thing. At the end to this tune, you’ll hear a car driving off, some wet pavement sounds, or what sounds like shoes on wet pavement, and that familiar beeping sound of a dump that warns you “hey man, I’m backing up!” The band’s last song is called “12th St.” This track takes on a darker sound. The band also plays at a much slower pace compared to the rest of their songs. Lyrically, there’s a lot of mental anguish with this one and musically, it reminds me of bands like Bush. I thought after listening to it, it was fawn’s finest moment on the EP. If you’re in your twenties, or the memories are still fresh, I think you’ll relate to the words here. At first, I thought Is This Fun Yet? was going to be music from a band that had a sarcastic take on life, like, cracking a joke or two and calling it a day. There is some of that on this EP, but what I found more was a quartet who has substance and direction. Hopefully, more substance will come forth on a full-length album.
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