Pimp Your Past

Pimp Your Past is the record on which Fair Warning reconstructed key songs from their first three albums with 2016 playing and sound. The starting point was a request from their Japanese record company; the band was skeptical at first, but say the drive came once they decided not simply to re-record but to give the material fresh arrangements. Released on King Records in Japan and Steamhammer/SPV in Europe. Their own line — a good song will always remain a good song — runs through the whole thing. The witty monkey artwork is a joke on an early stage of evolution. Rather than a mere best-of, re-examining the texture of melody, choruses and guitar as the band they are now brings out the strength of the songs themselves. Five come from the debut, including “Longing for Love,” four from Rainmaker including “Burning Heart,” and “Angels of Heaven” and “Save Me” from Go!; “Rain Song” was re-recorded with no keyboards at all. For those who know the originals, new expressions; for newcomers, the band's foundations. Not dressing up the past, but showing that good songs cross eras.