Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Vol XXXVI No.4 03/03/02
Ranked TOP 25 DEMO submitted to MC in 2002!!!!!
A guitar-driven, Florida based, melodic pop-rock fourpiece, FSR have studied their genre well, coming up with a crafty, self-assured, and thoroughly listenable disc. The best tune, "Brand New Heart" really pumps to the extremities; "Dont Wanna Know is another solid regular-guy outing with strong vocals that remind us of a cross between Bryan Adams and Everclear's Art Alexakis. "Celebrate Tonight" seals the deal for us. While the drums are a little too out-front in the mix, the band's potential is crystal-clear. Check 'em out.
- Mark Nardone
(November 2002) Issue 187
Four Star Riot clicks on so many different levels, its a wonder how they manage to contain it all instead of shearing off into two bands. On one hand you have a stellar power pop unit that plugs away at poignant melodies and tense, cathartic arrangements. The other portion is loud and rowdy and turbulent. Somehow they manage to cram both inspirations into a hard rock variant that's catchy and underground without hedging any cred between the two. In a summery season of strong local albums, FSR's disc holds a distinction for its potent sound (thanks again Marchak!) and wicked backbeat. As if this couldn't be an endless list; nice distorted burn and slash quotient to the guitars, Steve's resilient voice with its roadburn scratch, lyrics beyond that awkward stage, and a warm friendly sound that hugs you around the ribcage- while its emptying a beer on your head. Four stars, four breadsticks, the infamous No Clubs four-pack of Pabst, the max. - Dave Hundley
12/18/02
Energetic Pinellas power-pop quartet Four Star Riot's urgent, hooky material is never worse than good. They're at their best, however, when injecting attitude and idiosyncratic elements like the surf melody and Police-esque syncopation of "this Can't Be All" into the fray. The Best Things largely splits its time between those kind of intriguing moments and the foursquare, stripped-bare pop-rock of the title track, "There It Goes" and "All For One." They handle the basic stuff better than most, thanks in large part to Steve Alex's masterful vocal persona, but the slightly more inventive tuneage of "Save the Day," "It's Been A Long Time" and the aforementioned "This Can't Be All" stands way out. The Stones-y "Something So Right" is a bonus. Damn, this one's almost good enough to make me stop giving them shit about playing the occasional cover stint... - Scott Harrell
Discography
1999 Disguised in Sound - LP
2001 Soul System - LP
2003 The Best Things - LP
new LP release coming Fall 2003
weekly radio play on 97X in Tampa on the Local Motion show - Sundays 11PM
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
A band with influences that range from The Police, to The Stones, The Clash to The Attractions and everything in between. With a sound thats new and old all at once, FSR is definitely authentic. Basically, theyre a stripped-down rock band with a bit of innovation and a lot of attitude. A ton o fun at every show, where they bring an energetic frenzy wrapped in a shit-load of hooks and melodies. FSR keeps busy with an average of over a hundred shows a year since 1999. In the past year, the band opened for a string of nationals like Lit, Sum41, Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory, Alien Ant Farm, Def Leppard, Saliva, and many others.
Since 1999, FSR has released three independent discs. All of which sold through their initial pressings. The band has garnered gracious reviews for all three discs, but especially for 2002s The Best Things. At home, theyve been called Best Original Band by Tampas Weekly Planet magazine. In the fall of 2002, they grabbed the Best of the Bay Readers' pick for Act Most Likely to Succeed. On the national front, L.A.s Music Connection magazine (year-end special edition) called FSRs Eponymous CD one of the top 25 demos submitted for review in 2002.
Most recently, FSR played 98Rocks Livestock 13 Festival as the only unsigned act to play the coveted Saturday afternoon slot between Theory Of A Deadman and Trapt. The fan base is growing. Audiences are singing along more and more at every show. The band is rabid. The songs are radio-ready. Four Star Riot is exactly what it proclaims to be. See you at the rock and roll show.
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