The Days of Lore

All Smiles makes me smile

Friday, May 15th, 2009 | musiX, pdX

It’s been a long, loooooong time since a batch of songs has grabbed me so quickly, caught me so off-guard, and made me go straight to the TDoL Command Center (i.e. my old, dilapidated laptop) to crank out some copy.

Jim Fairchild has been writing songs under the moniker All Smiles for a couple of years now. Prior to that he was playing second fiddle to Jason Lytle in that one band from that one armpit in central California. In 2007 Fairchild recorded Ten Readings of a Warning on a shoestring while living in Chicago. Fairchild has since made the move to Portland (they always do) and, having recently wrapped up those Modest Mouse gigs, will finally release Oh For the Getting and Not Letting Go on June 30.

Allow me to reiterate: This is a great pop record. It’s louder than the last one, but there’s still a vulnerable tenderness in Fairchild’s vocals as they push their way through crisp distortion and swank production. Oh, and the hooks. And the oohs and aahs on “Foxes In the Furnace.” Lethal. Listen to me, I’m prattling on like a child.

Fairchild will perform at Mississippi Studios on May 22, but expect a full-on All Smiles tour after the new record is released … and maybe the occasional Modest Mouse gig.

“The Ones I Want to Live” - All Smiles

“Foxes In the Furnace” - All Smiles

Tags: All Smiles, Grandady, Jason Lytle, Jim Fairchild, Modest Mouse, Oh For the Getting and Not Letting Go

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