About a year and a half ago, we ran a review of Curious Fools' sophomore release, Read. But in the wake of the record actually getting released, the Fools' label, Via Records, went belly up and the record has languished in the vault ever since. Now the band has signed a new deal that will give everyone a second chance to take a first listen to this recording. Curious Fools' self-titled debut turned as many heads for its killer album artwork and lead singer Steve Murray's overt Bono influences as it did for the band's incisive songwriting and skillful musicianship. On Read, the band's sophomore project, the unique packaging may still be a distraction, but the U2 comparisons are reduced to almost nil and the Fools' songwriting has been honed even sharper. The polished atmospheric veneer of Curious Fools has been peeled back revealing an edgy guitar pop attack. This more direct approach, full of catchy choruses and memorable guitar hooks, makes Read more "user friendly" and more experimental at the same time. The lyrics have more bite as well, more room for personal interpretation. Paradoxical, you say? Contradictory? If it wasn't so curious, it wouldn't be this interesting.
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