Album Reviews

- by Nate Hennon

For years I have been a fan of the magic that is Chris Farren and Jeff Rosenstock. Both gents have been a part of some fantastic musical outfits (Farren was in Fake Problems; Rosenstock in Bomb the Music Industry), but their solo work is something else to behold. But I was unfamiliar with the power that these two bring to a duo project. Well, Antarctigo Vespucci is the Reese's Peanut Butter cup of music; two great things combined and frequently consumed quickly while my children are in the other room.

The beauty of Antarctigo Vespucci is how well Farren and Rosenstock blend their greatest attributes into a single unit. I love Farren's vocals on his solo work, but the song structures never quite matched what was done in Fake Problems. Also, Rosenstock's last album, "Post-," was full of interesting and deeply musical songs, but the lyrics were too introspective and off-beat for my liking. But, with Antarctigo Vespucci's latest, "Love In The Time of E-Mail," everything blends together in a near perfect 13-song package.

The only criticism I have for "Love In The Time of E-Mail" is with the opening and closing song. I believe these two songs are meant to bookend the album in a pseudo-conceptual kinda way, but they come off as just filler.  Both songs are fine, but they feel like interesting bridges rather than fully formed ideas. Maybe this is intentional, but my brain didn't get it. The rest of the album is excellent and deserves a few rotations over the next weeks. At least until it is socially acceptable again to put on Farren's Christmas album. Yeah he has one of those too.

Track listing:

1. Voicemail
2. Kimmy    
3. White Noise    
4. Breathless on DVD    
5. The Price Is Right Theme Song    
6. So Vivid!    
7. Freakin' U Out    
8. All These Nights    
9. Not Yours    
10. Do It Over    
11. Another Good Thing    
12. Lifelike    
13. E-Mail