After releasing two independent albums on their own, the Maryland-based band Fiction 20 Down is releasing their debut album Comfortable Fools this Saturday at their show at the Recher Theater in Towson, MD.

The album opens with two catchy tracks reworked from their last (and independent) album, they are called Wind Me Down and Wake Up. It’s good that they’ve included the best songs from their independent release here for more people to hear. The third track is a new one, Top n’ Tails, another catchy song with a nice reggae feel. I love it how this song goes from one part to another, changing. Moreover, catchy is a word I’d use to describe the record – I’ve caught myself singing along the choruses of many songs on this album.

The next track, Gossip & Gunplay, is also reworked from the previous independent album. I’m happy that it also found its way to here. The track after that is called Gossip & Gunplay (extended). It’s a brilliant idea to include the reprise of a good song. However, I wonder why it’s right after the song. Talking about reprises of songs, I would say “the king of them” is Before These Crowded Streets by Dave Matthews Band, which is also one of my favorite albums. There the reprises are placed shrewdly at the ends of the tracks and you don’t have a clue what you are hearing unless you pay close attention to the songs.

Back to this album, all of the following tracks are new ones. My favorite one and also the most versatile track musically is Rock Bottom Blue, the longest track of the record containing a cello accompaniment. I also like the transition to next track, The Common Sense. These two tracks have many similarities and make a good combination.

The next two tracks also have something alike. First Honor Echoes is a quieter one, then Away She Comes takes it a step further. After them, the catchy title track Comfortable Fools closes the album.

With smaller bands you always wonder whether they really got the talent to be successful. These guys do. This is just my personal opinion, but I think they are trying too hard to come up with hit songs – almost every song off this album sounds like it could be one. Often the best songs by the bands I love are not the hit songs but the deeper ones that take time to understand. So, I think what the guys should do more, is making music out of the heart, instead of thinking about a “hit formula.”

Check out Fiction 20 Down’s MySpace page to listen to some of the new songs. And if you’d like to download them, some are available at their promo area with the promo code glimmer01.

I feel Fiction 20 Down has done a good job with their debut album. They have now signed with an entertainment agency to support them at national level in the States, which sounds good. I wish them all the best and hope the new efforts get more people to enjoy their great music and good spirit.