Categories: MusicReviews

Review: World Leader Pretend


World Leader Pretend
“Fit For Faded”
(Renaissance Records)

Despite having such a lame name — a song title ripped from R.E.M’s “Green” album — this is a decent first effort for the derivative quartet from New Orleans. Unfortunately the wet blanket groove of the opening track does little to pull you in. They sound like the 21-year-olds that they are, playing college bars in between sets from lousy jam bands. But the lilting second track “The Driving Rain,” which falls smack dab in the middle of Jeff Buckley territory, keeps you interested in what’s next. A pattern seems to be emerging here, because the third track is on par with the weakness of the first track. By the fourth track, though, you’ve found gold in “A Small Thought.” Singer/guitarist/primary songwriter Keith Ferguson shines here on the acoustic ballad that releases the harness on his beautiful croon.

Besides Buckley, he’s also studied Thom Yorke and the Radiohead art of writing soft pop hooks laced with melancholy, as evidenced on “Headlights.” These boys are also impressive for producing and mixing their debut. It’s a clean pop/rock sound, with tinges of experimental digital blips and bleeps. It’s solid work from a promising group.

Eric

Recent Posts

Band Profile: Turnstile

  Turnstile is a lesson in 'how its done'. Formed in Baltimore, Maryland in 2010,…

4 months ago

Top 10 Reasons FromSoftware Fails Gamers Worldwide

"A shining diamond, dipped into a bucket full of diarrhea, vomit, and developer incompetence." That…

4 months ago

Is Generation Alpha at Risk of Being the Worst Yet?

Explore the complex educational landscape for Generation Alpha, facing the challenges of digital overload and…

4 months ago

Diamond Eruptions: Unveiling Earth’s Sparkling Fountains

Imagine a world where the sparkle of diamonds isn't confined to jewelry stores or the…

4 months ago

Top 10 Dark Souls Secrets To Maximize Your Game (plus 1 pro tip you probably missed)

If you're like me, you've spent countless hours delving into the punishing world of Dark…

4 months ago

10 Weird But True Steve Jobs Facts That Will Amaze You

Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, was known for his visionary ideas and the…

4 months ago