Fake Problems - Spurs and Spokes / Bull>Matador

Naples, FL is just a hop, skip and a few hours from the state's underground music haven of Gainesville, but the whole "No Idea Records" sound has travelled across the modern world over the years. Naples' Fake Problems aren't prone to sounding like anyone else who might be associated with that scene, but the unabashed capriciousness displayed on Spurs & Spokes/Bull > Matador is reminiscent of Against Me! (whom the quartet will tour with next year), Hot Water Music, early Lucero, and Defiance, Ohio. Simultaneously, it's a lot catchier and melodic than any of those bands. A compilation of sorts, the release brings together the songs from a 7" from earlier this year and four re-recorded tracks from the band's debut. An abundance of variety between the eight tracks aims to prove how Fake Problems are as suited to play something like a Plan-It-X festival as they are to share the stage with their lovely indie pop friends at Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records (whose Baby Calendar do some backing vocals on here). Honky tonk punk and denying the existence of a god are at the heart of "Motion of Ocean," while "Your Silver Heart" is restrained alt-country. "Degree'd or Denounced" could have almost been yanked from Against Me!'s Crime, a seeming cry out against the uniform life expected out of young adults (careers, not bands!). Honesty is almost always why we love bands like this; we can relate to their language and feelings, and don't see them trying to rise above us on some rockstar platform. Fake Problems' only problem is the lack of a proper full-length, but as that should be remedied next year, a name change might be in order. Rough, poppy and a helluva lotta fun = Fake Problems. [www.sabotproductions.net]