A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
(Fueled by Ramen)
Signed to their offshoot label and bearing a passing resemblance to current US emo-punk favourites Fallout Boy, this Las Vegas teen quartet are precocious and precious in equal parts. With a lyricist from the Richey James school of writing (sample song title: The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage) and a hybrid sound that blends extravagant, fondant choruses with chuntering synths, rumbling drum machines and chugging guitars, they are Weezer covered by Duran Duran — cosmetically enhanced geek rock with a self-regarding streak of narcissism. You can positively smell the cult following, but A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out is never quite as refined as it thinks.
MIKE PATTENDEN