John Faye Power Trip

Album Review

After the Caulfields disbanded in 1997, it seemed unlikely that singer/songwriter John Faye would return, never mind with an album as excellent as this. Filled to the brim with sunny hooks, crackling guitars, and catchy melodies, John Faye Power Trip is truly one of the finest power pop releases of 1999. Led by the first two singles, "Miss Catch 22" (a clever, uptempo rocker) and "Dancing In Your Shadow" (a moving ballad), the album is nearly seamless. The opening "Hand Me Down" is a late-era Replacements-style rocker, and the hard rocking closer "Translation" would sound at home on modern alternative rock radio. Also by employing strange sound samples and bizarre time signatures, Faye has made this album sound completely fresh and new. Part of the true genius is that behind the sunny melodicism lays true lyrical depth; Faye openly addresses growing up half Asian in a white-dominated society on several tracks here, most notably the powerful "Whisper at the Top of My Lungs" and "Hand Me Down." This is a highly recommended debut album from an artist who is just beginning to exhibit his complete potential.