Close

Fuel

Posted in MusicWorld on January 31, 2001 by

Trendy cynicism be damned: On their rousing sophomore album, Something Like Human, Fuel creates heroic, fist-pumping music that recalls '70s hard rockers like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. "Something Like Human" is more than a curious CD title - it's also an apt description for Fuel's musical approach. As evidenced by tracks like "Last Time," "Empty Spaces" and "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)," Fuel creatively bridges the gap between human emotionalism and technological precision, as Bret Scallions's howling vocals contrast perfectly with Carl Bell's robotic guitar and Kevin Miller's and Jeff Abercrombie's lockstep rhythms.

While no one could justly accuse Fuel of being demure, the group's music is more tuneful than the groove-oriented sounds of rap-metal. Along with their BMI stablemates Creed, Fuel is bringing melody and showmanship back to rock & roll. The Pennsylvania quartet makes no apologies for their catchy, pop-influenced rock, and fans worldwide are responding to the group's enthusiastic performances.

Something Like Human follows on the platinum heels of Sunburn, Fuel's 1998 debut recording featuring the hit single "Shimmer" and the album-rock staples "Bittersweet" and "Jesus or a Gun." During the tour that year, the band apparently learned a lot. After playing nearly 400 gigs, Fuel won headlining status.

Fuel has honed their sound to the cutting point. Something Like Human features a big, luscious production sound that complements the band's savage musical assault. The first single, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)," reigned at the top of Billboard's Modern Rock chart for nearly three months, and the CD was certified gold just five weeks after its release. Fuel helped intensify the media buzz by performing three sold-out shows at Los Angeles' legendary Whisky A Go-Go in late 2000, and in January, the band jumped back on the road as part of the Kid Rock/Buckcherry tour.

Subscribe

The Weekly

Each week, Learn, Listen, Watch, Discover and Share with BMI! From must-see videos, to creative inspiration and dynamic playlists we’re excited about, BMI’s The Weekly is dedicated to delivering specially curated content designed for music creators and music fans alike!

Join BMI Live

BMI Live
Back to Top