Working alongside highly pedigreed producer Peter Katis, whose credits include indie rock touchstones like The National’s Boxer and Interpol’s Antics, Golden Bloom front (and only) man Shawn Fogel lives up to his “multi-instrumentalist” billing. He sounds not only like a full band, but a darned good one as he juggles everything from piano to tenor sax to harmonica.

Fan the Flames announces its intention to rock right off the bat with the burbling organ riff of “E.H.M.”, as punchy a chunk of power pop as the year has seen. With its infectious guitar riff, under-two-minute running time and bittersweet lyrics (“Give it a rest if it’s not your problem / You do your best, smile and rob them blind”), it plays sort of like the opening theme to a hip new TV show. “Doomsday Devices” rides its full-bodied production right into Summerteeth territory, both musically and lyrically (“I keep them hidden, at least I try / But it happens every time I say goodbye / Yeah, that’s when I use my doomsday devices”). Even when Fogel slows things down, as on the relatively somber title track, he manages to channel a bit of It’s a Shame About Ray-era Evan Dando. He’s even confident enough to go out with a smile – the untitled closing track is a hopping little ode to Rod Blagojevich (“Don’t say it’s not so bad / I think the governor’s gone mad / He just compared himself to Gandhi and Dr. King”).

Fans of Monsters of Folk and its component players will find plenty to like here. The two acts do share some sonic similarities, notably Fogel’s Jim Jones-y vocals on the country-tinged “She Leaves Me Poetry” and the bouncy “If You Believe,” but the real link is in the particular kind of energy both groups bring to the table. Fan the Flames sounds like an album that was a lot of fun to make, and as such it’s a lot of fun to hear.

Recommended Tracks: “E.H.M.”, “Doomsday Devices,” “The Fight at the End of the Tunnel”

-Ira Brooker

Download E.H.M.