Fairmont, hailing from the suburbs of North Jersey, embodies the indie rock spirit with a persistent edge and an evolving sound. Helmed by Neil Sabatino, who once played a pivotal role in the cult-favorite Pencey Prep, the band emerged in 2001 as a stripped-down, introspective solo project. But Fairmont quickly morphed into a fully-fledged indie rock outfit, its lineup expanding and contracting over the years like the breath of a restless soul. With twelve studio albums and six EPs under their belt, and a relentless touring schedule across the U.S. in the past, Fairmont is now gearing up for their much-anticipated 13th studio album “I Wish I Was Stupid” on November 29th, 2024.
Their discography is a journey through varied landscapes of indie rock aesthetics and emotion. The debut, Pretending Greatness is Awaiting (2001), laid the groundwork for what was to come—a meticulous exploration of self and society. They followed it up with the existential rumblings of Anomie (2003) & Hell is Other People (2005) followed by the stark minimalism of Wait & Hope (2007). But Fairmont didn’t just rest on their laurels. Sabatino spearheaded the formation of Mint 400 Records, a label that has since become a beacon for independent artists, with Fairmont’s Transcendence (2008) and Destruction Creation (2010) standing as early testaments to the label’s ethos. As of 2024, Mint 400 Records has over 600 releases to its name—evidence to the labels enduring influence.
Fairmont’s journey hasn’t been without its share of lineup changes. The band welcomed keyboardist Christian Kisala in 2008, who would become an instrumental piece in the band's success over the last 15 years. Recently over the course of the last few albums Kisala's wife, Jane Keating, also joined lending signature female vocals to the Fairmont sound. The band started their early days playing high profile shows with bands like Nada Surf, Ted Leo, My Chemical Romance and others, but it wasn't until their later career that they started seeing their music appear worldwide in film, tv and most importantly the band climbing the college radio charts on their last handful of records and staying there for weeks at a clip. Fairmont is an oddity, a band who's strongest material is being churned out 2 decades into their career.
The lyrics of Fairmont’s new single “Boring Dumb Song” convey a sense of disillusionment and frustration, underscored by a minimalist yet evocative choice of words. The opening lines, “I don’t want anything that can’t fit inside my hands, I don’t need anything except my feet digging in the sand,” suggest a desire for simplicity and grounding, perhaps a rejection of materialism or societal expectations. As the song progresses, the repeated refrain, “We can’t win, let’s burn it down and start again,” becomes a central theme, highlighting a cycle of defeat and the urge to rebuild from the ashes. The imagery of “finger hands, rubber bands, spray on tans, baby grand” appears disjointed and surreal, reinforcing the song’s theme of meaninglessness or the absurdity of modern life.
The song seems to grapple with the futility of striving for perfection or success in a world that feels inherently flawed. With lines like “Lyrics are just filler in my stupid song, my stupid song about nothing” further accentuates this sense of nihilism, suggesting that even the creative process can feel empty or purposeless. However, amidst this disillusionment, there’s also a glimmer of hope or resilience in the repeated notion of starting again, even if success seems unattainable. The final stanza, with its focus on “next time,” hints at a determination to learn from past mistakes and a desire to approach the future with renewed intent, even if the outcome remains uncertain. Overall, the song reflects a complex mix of cynicism, self-awareness, and a faint but persistent hope for change.
At the very least any fan of bands like The Smithereens or more obscure bands like Plastic Bertrand, The Freshies, or The Speedies are going to love this but I think there is also a bit of modern feel in the vein of Mike Krol, Jay Reatard or even a hint of Ty Segall in this. It's great to know bands like this that are DIY to the core, from their basement studio to their own record label, are churning out music for over two decades and counting.