Teddy & The Fun Time Friends - Teddy & The Fun Time Friends

Teddy & The Fun Time Friends

Teddy & The Fun Time Friends
FONE Records; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Demiera Harris

Teddy & The Fun Time Friends’ self-titled album Teddy & The Fun Time Friends is like one of those gigantic jawbreakers that are the size of a baseball. When you start out, it seems pretty plain; there are speckles of color here and there and it tastes good, but you’re enjoying it almost mindlessly. Then out of nowhere you reveal the first splash of color. Whoa! Have I missed anything? What else is under there, what’s next??

The album is comprised of nine songs graced with Teddy Lee’s well-carried voice; he does a great job elevating it or bringing it down whenever the song calls for it. For the most part, the guitar chords that accompany the vocals are filling; without them, the sound would fall limp, but it isn’t until you rip the song apart that you really get a feel for their true power. To be fair, the solo guitar portions are on a whole different level and contend with the vocals. The bass keeps it all grounded, with steady low notes. Together it makes a sound that is a bit folky, a bit rock, a bit groove, altogether awesome.

The album undergoes a subtle yet powerful crescendo from song to song, gaining in complexity as each minute passes. It starts with “Fun Time Friends,” a simple opening song with guitars and vocals switching main roles while supported with a very heavy bass line. This is the basis for the rest of the music, though the technique changes at different points. For example, “Might As Well Be” has some subtle yet intriguing polyrhythm going on. Of special note was the moment where there was a breakdown of sorts - there was something especially cool about the execution of that part.

“Mirror Lake” starts off kind of weird with the rippling instrument effects, but blossoms into a chill groove. It’s the longest song on the album and to be honest, it kind of feels like it too. Part of that is because it is twice the length of most of the other songs. I enjoyed the whole song myself, but it was just jarring, especially when “Remains the Same” seems to end prematurely in contrast. 

Then there were unexpected points that really endeared me to the album. Lee uses a rap style in “Cool Kids,” with his voice sounding like more of a spoken word poem than anything else, but it was an interesting break from the other songs. “Loony Bin” is simply chockfull of ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’ From the not quite words of the verse, to the change in rhythm that accompanies the actual words of the incredibly catchy chorus, it’s purposefully all over the place and that made it delightful to listen to. 

“Burnt Bridges” was my epiphany, and changed my point of view on the whole rest of the album preceding and following. This song has all the instructional capacity of a kid’s album while heavily seasoned with the jarring realities of adulthood – and it made me look back retrospectively and recognize that feature all throughout the rest of the album too. Playful tunes balance with heavy bass to make this an incredibly interesting album and I really enjoyed listening and re-listening to it.

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