Books On Fate - Mystery

Books On Fate is the solo project of Adam Dishart, formerly of Catholic Comb, and his album, Memory, is both heavily and proudly influenced by 80s post-punk and guitar pop like Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, and most obviously, The Smiths. In fact Dishart is so upfront about his influences, he playfully lifts the ‘opening-and-closing car door effect’ from The Smiths’ “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” on the album opener, “Memory,” a song equally laden with Cure-like synths.

A wise friend once told me that it’s easy to do the Smiths poorly, but nearly unheard of to do them well. While it’s obvious it’s impossible to recreate the chemistry between Morrissey and Marr, Dishart certainly does a fine enough job of renewing some of that energy. He comes close to recreating Marr’s knack for beautiful guitar melodies on “Impossible Nevers,” but it’s the emotions and conviction that really sell it. Even if it’s not even expected or wanted for Dishart to recreate that magic, every song has such personality and is so loaded with emotional weight that it becomes his own.

When I first heard this album, I expected it to be another 80s jangle pop rip off, but it really isn’t. Instead of imitating Robert Smith or Morrissey, Dishart has crafted his own voice while picking up along the way the ability “capture the alienation and wistfulness of youth.” I’m an immediate sell for highly emotional and maudlin pop, but not only does Books On Fate do this well, they do it poetically and spectacularly. Admittedly, even just thinking of the song “Coast Starlight” starts the tears welling. It’s some beautiful stuff.