I find the band's choice to name themselves amusing. What I mean is that watching a theme park go up in flames would be exciting, even somewhat entertaining. Listening to this CD was not exciting or entertaining in the least bit. All songs on the album were written and originally performed solely by frontman Michael Feerick, who later brought three other musicians on board so they could play live shows.
This album suffers from a few things including the fact that it all sounds the same. I think originally Feerick realized this and simply thought, "Oh, I'd better throw in a violin and a guitar." But unfortunately, no instrument could save this band's music, which, compiled together in an album only provides the listener with forty two and one half minutes of noise.
Another major downfall of this album is the lyrics. Perhaps Michael Feerick is a poetic genius. Perhaps the word magnets on my refrigerator would've made better lyrics. I'll never know. The only line I could at all understand was "with a paint can" which is repeated relentlessly in 'Ramones Book'.
Other highlights on this album are 'Venus in Cancer' which sounds like a good song that fell into a trash compactor during a thunderstorm. The original track must have been too long though. Meaning that if 'Venus in Cancer' was the first half, the next song, 'Eighty Eight' would be the second half. Then comes 'Wiper' which, expectedly, offers only more monotonous guitar fuzz
The final word on this one is that Amusement Parks On Fire is the ugly, bastard child of My Bloody Valentine and Mogwai. Their self titled album, which was released last summer in the U.K. was issued in the U.S. on May 31st. I honestly don't know why the band is even bothering; it's not worth their time or America's.
