Farside

(Revelation)
by Jeff Fritz

This power pop quartet’s latest effort on punk-gone-indie-rock label Revelation Records sports two bonus acoustic tracks hidden behind the four rock songs about dysfunctional families listed on the back of the box. The more aggressive stuff works pretty well, but doesn’t make enough of an impact to support the anticlimax of the two folky meanderings that wrap up this disc as the songs wander off into the dangerously sentimental zone. Despite that, it’s worth a listen and on days when you’re in the mood for the tortured minstrel sort of thing, you may find yourself fond of the whole package.