Liam Lynch
"Fake Songs"
S-Curve Records
Grade: D
Bottom Line:
It's a little bit funny and a little bit rock 'n roll, but why settle for a fake when you can enjoy the originals?Remember that show "Sifl and Olly" that aired on MTV a while back? You know, the one that featured comic sock-puppets? If you've been wondering where the "creative genius" behind that one disappeared to, here's your answer.

Liam Lynch has been making music. His latest effort, "Fake Songs," released last April on S-curve records, is Lynch's take on the musical comedy album. Based on his impressive collaborations (co-writing songs for Dave Grohl and the upcoming Tenacious D album), and an album boasting cameos by Jack Black and Ringo Starr, one might be inclined to think "Fake Songs" sounds promising. Unfortunately, after a listen it becomes clear that maybe Lynch's artistic talent peaked with the sock-puppets. Of course, there is the possibility that I just don't get the album, but I'm pretty sure it just isn't funny.

"Fake Songs" has twenty tracks, which are all thankfully shorter than two and a half minutes. The album is a parody of almost every major trend in music, interspersed with some songs aimed at a particular artist ("Fake Pixies Song," "Fake Depeche Mode Song") and some that are just random as hell ("I'm All Bloody Inside," and "Horny Kind of Love"). Musically, the album isn't horrible, just intentionally and shamelessly unoriginal. At first, each track provokes that "maybe I've heard this somewhere before" reaction, drawing the listener in until the song becomes so painfully clich, that it becomes virtually boring. It's obvious that Lynch listens to a lot of music, and does a pretty good job accurately imitating a wide range - from country to disco to death metal- but why listen to a guy who does a really good "Fake Bjork Song," when Bjork does it better? While Lynch unquestionably proves to the listener that he has done his research, this album is evidence that not every music fan should be allowed to make their own CD.

For the most part the lyrics, while they do suggest some wit, just add to the mockery of the genre or artist, further beating the listener over the head with the idea that this song is making fun of something.

And then come random songs. Take for example these lyrics from "I'm All Bloody Inside," an upbeat track with a pop-sound reminiscent of the 50's, which explores the idea that it's gross inside our bodies. Lynch sings, "Well I'm just a bag of guts and stuff / And I'm all bloody inside / A thin layer of skin's all that holds me in / And I'm all bloody inside." I mean, it's never been done ... but it's not funny. I know there has been a point in all of our lives when we dreamt of how great it would be to write that funny song about something really stupid. Well, "Fake Songs" is an entire album that attempts to realize the dream, and honestly, it's just kind of lame.

I do understand that this album, so aptly entitled "Fake Songs," is not meant to be seen a serious musical accomplishment, but I think that Lynch needs to choose between being a comic or a musician. It's simply not working for him to try to do both. It's clear that Lynch is a huge fan of both art forms, but he doesn't really know where to stake his claim. A decent musical comedy album is hard to come by these days for the very reason that it is extremely difficult to be both musically and comically successful. In short, this album is overkill. It tries too hard to shove it's mixed messages down the listener's throat, and makes fun of the annoying by making it more annoying. Musically, the album does nothing new, and comically it steers clear of class and subtlety. I'm sure Liam Lynch is really funny in person, and I'd even go so far as to bet that some of his collaborative efforts have been quite decent, but maybe he's the guy that really needs to stay behind the guy that's behind the guy. I'm just glad this copy of the CD didn't come with the 90 minute bonus DVD.