2009 is a tough year to judge. I’ve checked out more albums this year than any year in the past. Well over 1,000. And there have been quite a few great ones as well. When this list began, it had 110 albums. I abandoned my top 33 and 1/3 for 45, and then said “screw…
Fanfarlo has three key influences, in my opinion. First, the blaring trumpet and deep lead vocals on tracks like “The Walls Are Coming Down” reminisce of early Beirut (circa The Gulag Orkestar). Then, there’s the anthemic qualities in songs like “Luna”, which conjure artists such as Arcade Fire. And, finally, the theatrics of greats like…
With the orchestrated hints of Balkan-influence Beirut, and a vocal tenor to match, Fanfarlo takes their influence in a less dramatic direction, at least as it relates to songwriting. “The Walls Are Coming Down” certainly has theatrics, but they’re less, well, flamboyant. It’s more open, and less domineering too; the opposite of which truly allows…
