by Will Floyd (@Wilf_Lloyd)
Is post pop-punk a genre yet? If not then FonFon Ru continue to make a convincing case on their latest record, Collapse of the Silver Bridge, out tomorrow via Repeating Cloud. The Portland, Maine quartet have spent the past couple years churning out unabashedly progressive jams a la Idles, that rail against inequity, the exploits of modern capitalism, and oppressive gender norms. If the band’s quasi-mantra doesn’t entice you to their music, I don’t know what will: “The world is scary, and I want to wear cowboy boots and guillotine earrings and kiss my pals.” Honestly sounds like fun.
On Collapse of the Silver Bridge, post-punk’s most dissonant, ambient tendencies are offset by strong pop melodies, while pop punk’s occasionally simplistic arrangements are offset by extended noise passages. In this happy middleground, FonFon Ru provides the best of both worlds. According to the press release the band were aiming for an album that “rages in search of a loving, more caring world”. The more you listen to it, the less the relationship between rage and love feels like a contradiction. A song like “Fatty Tissue Thorn” showcases the band’s self-effacing humor, and is the rare anthem for aging, neurotic rockers obsessively checking WebMd you didn’t know you needed. “Manicure Manager” is another novel banger that extols the virtues of self-care for men: “What’s the matter, what have you never seen a man taking care of himself? I want to be pretty, need to be handsome, yeah I need it just like everyone else.” Think they’re joking? You may be part of the problem, bucko!
“Don’t Let the Cat Out” sees the band at their most earnestly political. Harry James talk-sings over a sly bass line “Tax breaks, give ‘em to the wealthy / Healthcare, give it to the healthy / You don’t even have to use it / but it’s scary when you lose it.” The chanted refrain at the song’s raucous outro is a bumper sticker or tee shirt waiting to happen, as the band sings in inspiring unison: “Don’t! Let! The! Cat! Out! Don’t! Let! The! Cops! In! Here!”
There’s even a brief foray into surf-rock with “Pool Party,” a heckin’ fun lamenting jam about not being invited to… a pool party. It’s just in time for the real spring weather, and yet another track that makes you wish you could kick it IRL with FonFon Ru. If listening to Collapse of the Silver Bridge is the next best thing, we are still abundantly blessed.