Fake Swedish - Get Correct (Demonbeach DEM 014)

Fake Swedish's debut explodes out of the gate with the scorching pop of "No Exit" and continues with the atmospheric "Shame", which almost unnoticeably segues into the lumbering "Get Correct".
The pulsing "Pedigree" gets things bopping again. This is good, excellent even. Blues rocker "Homemade" churns up the big iron pot and bubbles nicely with some spicy, stinging slide guitar. It nearly boils over at the end. I like that.

Next seems to be an unlisted dinosaur rock track that really doesn't go anywhere. Maybe that's why it is unlisted, unnamed. I don't know what to make of "Beef Trigger". It is a riff rock piece that allows a bit of stretching out for the band but not too memorable.

"Pilgrim" throbs and dances across the ballroom floor with some nice melody and atonality blended into its spaghetti western theme. "Pilgrim" is not quite as successful as it's promise but all in all is the highlight of the collection. Jacques Brel's "Jacky" exposes a warped sense of humor as well as some musical diversity. "Cute cute, in a stupid ass way"; so true.

"Remember This" doesn't deliver much reason to do so. Closing out is another highlight, "Effigy". It's bare, sitting around the house jamming quality, is just beautiful.

Arrangements are kept simple to good effect but what strikes me most about Get Correct is that ambitions were set quite high. The carrot was left way out front, maybe a little too far out. The result is a diverse group of tunes that could use a bit more edge. The technical aspects took precedent over hanging the balls out, I guess in deference to getting it correct. An impressive debut with strong performances by singer guitarist Joe Romeo, drummer Dave Perry, bass player Ashley Hayes and Eric Haugen on second guitar. Get correct rounds third but doesn’t make it all the way home. I’m looking forward to the next at bat.