Call Upon The Author

The Founders Of (or TFO as they’re more widely known) have a press blurb that states they’re the originators of Jump Rock and that they are, in essence, a party band. I found it strange then that this, their debut album, opens to a pretty downbeat track.
Don’t get me wrong, Ransom is a decent enough tune but it lacks the punch to really kick the album into gear early.
Elsewhere the band live up to their reputation with chugging riffs and incessant rhythms. Search and Destroy and the titular Live Fast, Stay Young both stake the band’s claim well and are tunes I’ll be going back to again and again, but one thing niggles at me and it’s a very personal gripe. The lead vocalist, whilst being really solid in places, keeps dropping into a nasal Anthony Keidis style of singing that detracts from the songs. The band would be much more potent if he found his own voice!
Other than that, TFO have produced a solid debut and, by selling it exclusively on USB sticks, marketed themselves in an interesting way. If they can tighten up the loose ends there’s no telling what might come from them in the future!