Here’s the thing: I love Tom Morello, but I’ve got mixed feelings about folk music. And I hate hippies. I committed to writing this review when the album came out last week, and I’ve been forcing myself to listen to The Fabled City every so often, to try to find something good to say about it. That’s not to say that it wouldn’t be hard for someone that likes folk music to go on and on about how awesome this album is- it’s just hard for a rock and roll junkie such as yours truly.
You know how in comic books, certain costumes got passed down over the years through a series of alter-egos? Like Batman had three different Robins, there were five Flashes, and like a million Green Lanterns? Well if Bruce Springsteen were to somehow get killed in the next Infinite Crisis, I think Tom Morello would make a great new The Boss. Especially if New Jersey were to somehow come out of the story arc without that godawful New Jersey smell, I bet its residents would be able turn a blind eye to the fact that Morello is actually from Harlem, and accept him as an honorable one their own.
I’ve never been a huge Springsteen fan (despite growing up just over the bridge), but the fantasy started when a guest appearance by Morello made me one for a day. And I went back to it after hearing track four, Night Falls. Granted, I’m biased, but what I’d love to hear on the next Morello album is a rocker or two a la Born In The USA, or a well crafted pop song a la Dancing In The Dark- that would totally seal it for me.
But I’ll stop daydreaming about The Boss v2.0, and get back to The Fabled City. It is good; Morello has a voice worth using, the songwriting is above par across the board, and the music is more dynamic than that of his debut solo effort, One Man Revolution. The second track, Whatever It Takes, almost comes close to some combination of my two wishes, being rather upbeat and groovy, stomping around at times over a riff that’s ever so vaguely reminiscent of something off of Rage Against The Machine’s fourth album.
Saint Isabelle and The Iron Wheel channel the Irish section of Morello’s diverse heritage, both backed by raucous whiskey-stained balladry.
I almost love track three, The King Of Hell, with music that, while minimal, is beautifully composed. I just find the chorus a bit repetitive. Lazarus On Down features backup vocals by Serj Tankian of System Of A Down, but I’ve been completely over him for quite some time, and I doubt even his big fans would consider his contribution little more than a splash of background color.
To be perfectly honest, I’ll probably forget about this album for the most part as soon as this review is finally done and published. But it’s certainly respectable, and will likely figure in to my decision next time Morello is playing somewhere cool around LA; I’ve seen him before and I’ll surely see him again. He’s a talented man, and if you’re into folk music- or if you liked One Man Revolution- The Fabled City is one to check out.
The Fabled City
September 30th, 2008
Epic
1. The Fabled City
2. Whatever It Takes
3. The King Of Hell
4. Night Falls
5. The Lights Are On In Spidertown
6. Midnight In The City Of Destruction
7. Saint Isabelle
8. Lazarus On Down
9. Gone Like Rain
10. The Iron Wheel
11. Rise To Power
About Skwerl
Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill was taught his first computer programming language by his Mother's marijuana dealer at age ten. His first job involved hustling TicketMaster lines on behalf of a New Jersey concert ticket broker at age fourteen, followed by a job in graphic design shortly after graduating high school and trade school simultaneously in 1998. He built his first website in 1996 or so, and continues to do things the way they should be done, rather than the way everyone else does. He's a bit of an asshole, but he's fiercely loyal to his friends, and to fellow fans of good music.Born and raised in Philadelphia, Skwerl now resides in Los Angeles.
