Friday, March 14, 2003
Boston Herald
Sarah Rodman
British bands have struggled of late to translate their ``next big thing'' status in the U.K. into a major U.S. breakthrough.
Which means Fiction Plane has one thing going for it as its new album, ``Everything Will Never Be Okay,'' flies into stores this week: zero advance hype.
In England, ``we are nobody, we are nothing,'' says lead singer-guitarist Joe Sumner, with a laugh. ``We spent years over there just playing shows and writing songs really, and we never went out to promote ourselves.''
It's surprising that the rapacious British press has chosen to ignore this particular baby band because Sumner is the eldest son of newly minted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sting (also known as Gordon Sumner). That's just fine with the 26-year-old, however. Fiction Plane, says the Cambridge School of Weston graduate, is concentrating on breaking into America, and ``whatever happens in England is very secondary.''
If the band gets a break on the radio, there's no reason that modern-rock fans shouldn't embrace the solid melodic hooks and polished guitar rock on ``Everything.'' Highlights include the title cut, which pairs a deliciously jaunty musical track with such morbid lyrics as ``I realize my body's designed to die,'' and the jittery, angry high school seduction fantasy ``Cigarette.''
Sumner displays a vocal - as well as physical - resemblance to his father but it's more vintage yelping Police than recent murmuring Sting.
The band, which includes bassist Dan Brown and guitarist Seton Daunt, has been touring relentlessly and expects to be back in Boston this spring. Sumner says he and his mates aren't sure what to expect now that the album is actually out.
`` So, we'll just go on tour and if anyone likes it, fine.'' Then he adds with a laugh, ``Or not, and we'll all get deported.''
http://www2.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/sara03142003.htm
