Fat Olive
Vaquero / Awake (self-released)
Hmmmm!
Sorry lads! Maybe it’s the name? I mean, ‘Fat Olive’ ….. perhaps that influenced my bias before even listening to a note? The name conjures up the image of a Club band – at least to this reviewer. Which is kind of sad, really as certainly the second track on this double-A sided release merits better than that description.
‘Vaquero’ however, despite the bouncy beat comes across as a bit wishy-washy. It lacks bite although there is no denying it is to an extent, catchy. However ‘catchy’ soon becomes ‘sickly’ I’m afraid. ‘Vaquero’ I believe is a term for a Texan cowboy which may explain the underlying guitar sounding like you may hear in the movies as the hero in a Western rides into a Mexican bandit stronghold.
‘Awake’ is a bit better. It has a bit more ‘balls’ to it and is more of a melodic Rock track. The vocals take on a more varied range from slightly husky delivery to full-on dramatic power singing for the chorus. The chorus itself has shades the likes of Shinedown and Nickelback type bands. The song builds from a quietly bold start with some nice little guitar licks and explodes into each chorus, powered through by some confident, thumping drums.
If you like the softer, more melodic side of Rock music, then this track may appeal. It certainly marks ‘Fat Olive’ as more than a Club band.
Change the name, perhaps?
Colin Jackson
