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| FM Static |
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1. Boy Moves To A New Town With Optimistic Outlook
2. The Unavoidable Battle Of Feeling On The Outside
3. Boy Meets Girl (And Visa Versa)
4. Sometimes You Can Forget Who You Are
5. Man Whatcha Doin'?
6. The Voyager Of Beliefs
7. Her Father's Song
8. Take Me As I Am
9. Dear God
10. The Shindig (Off To College)
2. The Unavoidable Battle Of Feeling On The Outside
3. Boy Meets Girl (And Visa Versa)
4. Sometimes You Can Forget Who You Are
5. Man Whatcha Doin'?
6. The Voyager Of Beliefs
7. Her Father's Song
8. Take Me As I Am
9. Dear God
10. The Shindig (Off To College)
Dear Diary
[Release Date: April 7, 2009] (Tooth & Nail Records)
Track Listing:
Track Listing:
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
3.4 out of 4
3.0 out of 3
2.0 out of 2
1.0 out of 1
9.4 out of 10
Message
Music
Production
Creativity
Overall Score
| 94% A |
What’s the difference between FM Static and Thousand Foot Krutch? Singer-songwriter
Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine lead both bands, but the former is a side
project to the latter. More than anything, having two names makes it easier to take some
fun creative chances. Like pursuing the idea for a concept album where every lyric is the
innermost thought of a soul-searching teenager. When that spark of inspiration entered
Trevor’s head last year while TFK was on tour with Skillet, he knew Dear Diary was a
perfect job for FM Static. This album is totally creative and so incredibly catchy, it
reminded me of some of the best punk rock impact albums of the past 15 years,
including Weezer’s “Blue Album”, Relient K’s “Mmhmm” and Plain White T’s “All That
We Needed”. The album caught me off guard as I have “What Are You Waiting For?”
and “Critically Ashamed” and consider them more guilty pleasure type punk rock albums,
similar to Relient K’s first three albums leading to the critically acclaimed “Mmhmm”.
The first song “Boy Moves to a New Town with Optimistic Outlook” introduces the
never-named star who hopes to find something or someone worth living for. Over a
punk tempo and pop melody he wonders: “What will we leave behind but the pages of
our life? “ I can’t stop listening to this song and it has the most catchy bridge and
chorus I’ve heard in this genre in many years. The next song “The Unavoidable Battle of
Feeling on the Outside” drills into the psyche with a simple guitar riff and his simple
social truth: “I’m not an idiot, but I feel like one a lot.” You have to listen to the whole
album in sequence and I recommend having the lyrics handy as you’ll most likely find
yourself singing along at the top of your lungs as you follow along with this very hook-
filled album, one of my top albums of 2009. Some other highlights for me are “The
Voyage of Beliefs”, which is an amazing duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia
Brock where the characters both step up in faith, proclaiming a belief in God that is their
own, not just the one their families have handed down. Also, Dear Diary’s first single,
“Take Me As I Am” is another highlight.
Closing Thoughts:
Although this is a surefire hit for the younger audience, I highly recommend Dear Diary
for all fans of the punk rock genre, like myself. Trevor’s songwriting and singing is top
notch and for me, this is my new “Blue Album” by Weezer, which was the soundtrack
album of my twenties when I wasn’t saved. I love that Christian themed punk rock can
sound this amazing!
Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine lead both bands, but the former is a side
project to the latter. More than anything, having two names makes it easier to take some
fun creative chances. Like pursuing the idea for a concept album where every lyric is the
innermost thought of a soul-searching teenager. When that spark of inspiration entered
Trevor’s head last year while TFK was on tour with Skillet, he knew Dear Diary was a
perfect job for FM Static. This album is totally creative and so incredibly catchy, it
reminded me of some of the best punk rock impact albums of the past 15 years,
including Weezer’s “Blue Album”, Relient K’s “Mmhmm” and Plain White T’s “All That
We Needed”. The album caught me off guard as I have “What Are You Waiting For?”
and “Critically Ashamed” and consider them more guilty pleasure type punk rock albums,
similar to Relient K’s first three albums leading to the critically acclaimed “Mmhmm”.
The first song “Boy Moves to a New Town with Optimistic Outlook” introduces the
never-named star who hopes to find something or someone worth living for. Over a
punk tempo and pop melody he wonders: “What will we leave behind but the pages of
our life? “ I can’t stop listening to this song and it has the most catchy bridge and
chorus I’ve heard in this genre in many years. The next song “The Unavoidable Battle of
Feeling on the Outside” drills into the psyche with a simple guitar riff and his simple
social truth: “I’m not an idiot, but I feel like one a lot.” You have to listen to the whole
album in sequence and I recommend having the lyrics handy as you’ll most likely find
yourself singing along at the top of your lungs as you follow along with this very hook-
filled album, one of my top albums of 2009. Some other highlights for me are “The
Voyage of Beliefs”, which is an amazing duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia
Brock where the characters both step up in faith, proclaiming a belief in God that is their
own, not just the one their families have handed down. Also, Dear Diary’s first single,
“Take Me As I Am” is another highlight.
Closing Thoughts:
Although this is a surefire hit for the younger audience, I highly recommend Dear Diary
for all fans of the punk rock genre, like myself. Trevor’s songwriting and singing is top
notch and for me, this is my new “Blue Album” by Weezer, which was the soundtrack
album of my twenties when I wasn’t saved. I love that Christian themed punk rock can
sound this amazing!
Review Written By: Kevin Davis [kevin.davis@christianmusicreview.org] Date Written: March 11, 2009
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