Fono, goesaroundcomesaround

The American based, Brits consisting band Fono brought out this album in 1999 and as a teenager I was sold on some of the tracks I downloaded. Years later I remembered and got the album recently of Amazon for a few quid.

It is well worth it. Right from the start with 'Collide', Fono kick of into a melodic marriage of rocky guitars and crisp vocals. The second track 'Under my skin' keeps you rocking and 'rock' is what you will find on this album. A real ballad is not to be found on this album, although tracks such as 'Now she's 24' and 'Splendid' touch on the somewhat softer side. However, the chorus in each of these songs still throw some strong guitar work at you. My firm favourite track remains 'Alcatraz' with a dramatic lead guitar riff leading the song after a spoken intro by -supposedly- an Alcatraz prisoner.

goesaroundcomesaround has sometimes been described as 'punk', but the complexity of some of the songs, both lyrically and musically and the welcome lack of 'over-easy' song structures (some songs start of with the chorus for example) make this more a timeless rock classic which, in my humble opinion, can't be missed in any serious rock fan's collection.

Tracklist and marks out of 10:

1. Collide (9)

2. Under my Skin (8)

3. Something must be happening (8)

4. Alcatrez (9)

5. Pretty You (7)

6. Round and Round (7)

7. Pusherman (7)

8. Now's she 24 (8)

9. Drift away (7)

10. Strangest Thing (7)

11. Burn (8)

12. Splendid (8)