Fuel Albums (5)
What The Critics Say
A few years after the 2003 release of their third album, Natural Selection, Fuel parted ways with lead vocalist Brett Scallions, which turned out to be a bit of fortuitous timing. Because Fuel were without a singer, they received a huge publicity boost in early 2006 when Chris Daughtry, resident rocker of the fifth season of American Idol, plugged them relentlessly, singing their songs and citing them as an influence. Since the band was down a singer, guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie (drummer Kevin Miller had left in 2004) decided to pursue Daughtry publicly, only to have the newly ascendant star turn them down. Undaunted, the pair hired Toryn Green as their new singer (and Godsmack skinman Tommy Stewart as their new drummer) and set out to make their own version of Daughtry's debut album with their fourth record, 2007's Angels & Devils. Musically, this isn't much different than previous Fuel albums, but they have followed their prodigy's lead, turning down the heaviness (not just in the guitars but the tone) and playing up the anthems and sentiment, leaving this as tortured-but-optimistic, tortured-but-earnest post-grunge. The production is brighter and Green is a more precise singer than Scallions, but such professionalism winds up giving Fuel a more generic feel than before -- indeed, they sound more generic than Daughtry, who not only has a knack for rock anthems but also benefited from some professional collaborators. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Fuel make post-grunge music that bears all the hallmarks of the genre -- sullen lyrics, polished heavy guitars, Alice in Chains vocal harmonies, a somber tone. Fuel had their breakthrough in 2001 when "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" became an omnipresent hit on modern rock radio, sending its parent album, Something Like Human, to 17 on the charts. "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" broke through because it had a brutal, endlessly repeated hook that stuck in the head. For Natural Selection, the follow-up to Something Like Human, Fuel tone down a bit of their stridency and clean up their sound a little (not too dissimilar to what Nickelback did with their follow-up album, The Long Road, released on the same day as Natural Selection, strangely enough). Such an increased sense of professionalism places the emphasis on the album's sound and feel, with the result being well performed and recorded, if somewhat lacking a visceral kick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Like several other successful rock bands of the post-grunge era, Fuel teeters between hard rock and heavy metal, as often as not within the same song. They are perfectly capable of adopting the lockstep thrash of Metallica-style metal, but they tend to vary it with comparatively melodic elements in a way that makes them acceptable to both headbangers and fans of less extreme rock. It certainly doesn't hurt that, every few songs, they throw in a ballad that begins with either an acoustic guitar or a lightly strummed electric (or both) and builds to a mid-tempo rocker. The primary example on their second album is first single "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)," which gives lead singer Brett Scallions the opportunity to intone "Don't fall away" in a tone of voice that recalls R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe singing "Fall on Me," and to emote about "love bleeding in my hands." Songwriter Carl Bell's lyrics, full of typical adolescent disillusionment over the vagaries of romance and the world in general, are sketchy, but his bitterness, even if shallow, seems freshly felt, notably on another of those power ballads, the sad "Innocent," and likely will connect with his listeners, after they've been pummeled by the rockers. Two albums in, Fuel still doesn't have much to say, but they are manipulating familiar ingredients in such a way that they may seem to be creating a new flavor, especially to young rock fans. (Something Like Human has multimedia content accessible by computer that includes a short film containing interview, studio, and performance footage as well as Fuel screen savers.) ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Fuel's major-label debut finds the Pennsylvanian band turning out an engaging set of post-alternative rock. Drawing from a variety of sources, from grunge and punk to '70s hard rock, the group has a promising sound that ripples with strength. Like many young bands, they have some trouble writing catchy, memorable songs, but there's enough style and individuality within their sound to suggest their potential. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Fuel self-released their debut record Porcelain in 1996. The debut by the Pennsylvania quartet was a smash indie hit, selling over 10,000 copies locally. The success of the lead single, "Shimmer," attracted the attention of Epic when it became a hit on local radio stations. This first release has become a rare find and a collector's item as some of the songs were refurbished for their 1998 major-label debut, Sunburn. A CD for collectors only. ~ JT Griffith, All Music Guide
