<\/p>\n
If there were ever a \u201chold my beer\u201d moment, I think we\u2019ve arrived at that point. When things take a turn, and you\u2019re entrusted with something that\u2019s easily comparable to an assortment of other things, is there any originality left? Maybe, but I\u2019m sure for many, those moments are far and fleeting. The 4-man PA outfit Fire In The Radio<\/strong> has been releasing music since 2015, but the group\u2019s sound is reminiscent of \u201890s emo.<\/p>\n The group, made up of Richard Carbone (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Miller (vocals, guitar), Adam Caldwell (drums), and Ed Olsen (bass), just re-released its Red Static Action<\/strong><\/em> (Wednesday Records), which, from my understanding, is a collection of demos that doubled as the band\u2019s full-length debut. The release probably should have been stashed in obscurity because the songs back then were far from comparable to the group\u2019s music today. Don\u2019t believe me? Listen to the band\u2019s 2020 Monuments, which does seem to hit with the fervor of a blazing sun. While there is something to be said about the \u201ccharm\u201d of indie\/garage rock bands hitting off-key vocal notes, here, matched with trailblazing songwriting that would have been popular in the latter half of the \u201890s, today it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n The only saving grace on this re-release is the inclusion of two newer tracks, \u201cHide The Knives,\u201d which showcases well-seasoned musicianship, interesting songwriting\/dynamics, and creative vocal interplay, as well as \u201cPrairie.\u201d The second track there, an ode to post-punk, plays again with dynamics and is both frantic and challenging. It\u2019s easy to fall in love with the song\u2019s melody and the band\u2019s attack with its instruments. I\u2019m here for it ALL DAY!<\/p>\n In the end, thinking of Fire In The Radio\u2019s Red Static Action<\/em>, it\u2019s difficult to disassociate the band from a Hulk\/Thor conversation when the god of thunder compared himself to a raging fire, but the smashing machine tells him that he\u2019s like a big raging fire, and Thor, well, he\u2019s more of just some burning embers. Of course, that\u2019s without the last two songs. If you want to listen to the band, focus on Monuments<\/em>, and just leave this recording where it belongs, in the past.<\/p>\n