Spitfire
Cult Fiction
Goodfellow
Working hard to say nothing
The old fable is simple: Convinced that a soup made from a single stone just needs a little garnish, the townspeople come together, each adding a small embellishment to make a hearty meal. I heard this in bible school and, as Virginia’s Spitfire know a thing or two about Jesus, maybe this tale inspired them to make Cult Fiction, their long, boring-ass new record.
Do these guys live in a recording studio? It seems like every riff, no matter how throwaway, found its way into a song. And if it can’t fit in a song? Hell, make it a completely new track that wastes my time. I don’t know if these guys understand what editing means, but maybe this is the real problem with Pro Tools: It gives bands the opportunity to put every single idea and sound, no matter how lame or annoying, on their albums. It also allows them to rip off a lot more bands. Do you like Botch? What about QOTSA? Maybe a little Sepultura? A dash of Every Time I Die? This record is the sound of standing in the middle of a Guitar Center. I’m surprised there isn’t a Chili Peppers bass solo.
It’s as if Spitfire didn’t want to take a chance on anyone not liking them, so they threw everything they could find in the pot and called it Cult Fiction. But honestly, no matter how much you add, it’s still just a damn rock in hot water. —Shane Mehling
