Thousand Foot Krutch released their indie label debut SET IT
OFF back in 2000. In 2003 they followed
it up with PHENOMENON (Tooth & Nail) on September 30th. A bit before that, on July 22, 2003, FM
Static released their debut album which I’ll be reviewing here. It is called WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Two of
the band’s four members at the time were also part of Krutch, those being
Trevor McNevan (vocals), and Steve Augustine (drums). On this side project they were joined by
Justin Smith (bass), and John Bunner (guitar).
The album was produced by Aaron Sprinkle and executive produced by
Brandon Ebel. Sprinkle also provides
additional guitars on the album. The
band thanks God “for blessing us with each day we have to do this”.
‘Three Days Later’ is a fun pop song: “Call up your friends
and let’s go down to the beach/Bring your stereo and all your favorite
CD’s/We’ll bring all the guitars, sit on top of our cars, and sing the night
away/Just like rock stars”. ‘Crazy Mary’
is one of the album’s three hit singles.
This pop song is about a troubled girl: “She watches the world pass her
by like a freight train/And they all call her the same names, laughing as they
point and stare at her/So she cries out to God up in Heaven/Been prayin’ since
she was eleven for Him to send someone to meet her there/Maybe if I took a
little time/Then she’d heal a little if she wants to”.
‘Something to Believe In’ is a pop/punk song of one seeking
meaning and purpose: “I don’t wanna look, I just wanna find/Can you give me
somethin’ to believe in?/Keep your religion, don’t need your lies/I’m just
lookin’ for one good reason/I feel like it’s teenage hunting season and nothing
out there sounds half decent/Who’s out there?/Who’s gonna save us?/Before we
all fall through the cracks in the pavement”.
‘Definitely Maybe’ is a story song: “I met a girl named Tara and she
lived in the heart of America/She liked black caddies, listened to Puff Daddy,
danced till her legs were sore/She worked around the corner at a diner with a
grouchy owner/And her boyfriend’s shady, dates another girl named Katie/He
loves her/Definitely maybe”.
‘Donna’ is a fast paced pop/punk song that finds a guy
conversing openly with a gal: “Oh Donna/Won’t ya pick me up tomorrow?/I need to
get out of this place I’m in and get my life in order/Although this world just
might fall apart/I’ve got enough in my heart to get us started/Come with me,
oh, I’m beggin’ you please/Or just say goodbye, cause this is the end of
me”. ‘All the Days’ is about a group of
friends going off to separate post-secondary institutions: “This is the last
day of our freshmen summer/Textbooks and essays wait around the corner/Saying
goodbye now to our best friends/We’ll try if we can to get home on
weekends.../Probably won’t see each other the same ways/But no matter what
happens/I’ll never forget all the times we’ve had together”.
‘Hold Me Twice’ includes these words from a girl to a boy:
“You can hold me once, you can hold me twice/Even better if the stars are good
tonight/You can hold me, be my one and only”.
However, the girl ends up moving away: “365 days have gone by now and I
could paint a picture of you/I see you every time I pass your locker/Remember
the time we talked till 6 a.m./And I’m tired of missing you”. ‘The Notion’ is a rocker about having a great
time: “Let’s go!/Don’t say maybe/Forget everyone around/Let’s get together and
get down/I know it sounds crazy/1, 2, 3 times a lady/Oh no, I’ve got the
notion/Let’s get together and start the commotion/Round and round til everyone
stops/Til the next needle on the record player drops”.
‘October’ speaks of a girl who ends up becoming famous: “I
saw you in Cosmopolitan and your hair was down and everybody liked you/I
remember way back when, way back in grade seven/Cause your hair was down and
everybody liked you/You were a smart girl/Favorite day was Earth Day/Forget
what those jerks say/I dug you in the worst way/No doubt, cause you even went
out and bought me a Boyz-N-the-Hood soundtrack for my birthday”. ‘My First Stereo’ is an ode to one’s music
machine: “Somethin’ tells me I’ll never be close to another like you/Helped me
through the things that we all go through/Everyone wants, everyone needs/Everyone
hurts sometimes like me/It never rejects me, always accepts me/Nothing can
compete with my first stereo”. After a
several minute lengthy silence, the album concludes with the hidden acoustic
track ‘Hey Now’. It’s about being
smitten with a girl: “Every minute I’m not with you/I hope I’ll see you
soon/There’s just something that happens when you walk into the room/And
instantly I feel so complete/It hits me right about the time you kiss my
cheek/And you give me this feeling/It’s like no other feeling/But it knocks me
off my feet”.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? is mainly a mainstream fast paced
pop/punk music album, although two of the songs speak of a deeper spiritual
meaning. There are happy songs about
infatuation and love, as well as songs that long for a gal, and one that
reaches out to a hurting gal. There is
even a love song to one’s stereo. As a
side project of two TFK members, this album is a success, as it does not sound
like the rock music that band puts out.
The lyrics here are not that deep and will appeal most to the teenage
crowd. Fans of MxPx and Relient K should buy this disc. It’s a fun listen which
I’m giving 85%. For more info connect
with the band on Facebook.