Reviews of Native Fiction

"Native Fiction has an original sound and a craftsmanlike approach to writing and singing, and I approve of all that."
- Philip Pullman (Dark Materials and Golden Compass author - www.philip-pullman.com)

"There's a certain irrreverence to being uncatagorizable, the songs of Native Fiction draw you in and sound like nothing but the future."
-Doug McBride Owner Gravity Studios Chicago, IL

"Native Fiction has the motivation to take the world by storm, playing like a veritable tempest. With members hailing from Oak Park, Hoffman Estates, Palatine and Antioch, the group includes Phil Sheaff on guitars, Matt Nelson on keyboards, Graham Czach on bass and Brad Dickert on drums (as well as nonstage band member Matt Nishan, who writes, records and mixes concerts). With all of its stage members contributing vocals, Native Fiction creates an impressive chorus of primal-sounding music. There is nothing fake about the Fiction lineup. They throw themselves wholeheartedly into playing their wild sound with gusto. Native Fiction plays romantic rock with epic scope. They're not exactly straight-up rock, nor are they a jam band or prog rockers. They say their influences include Floyd, Zappa and Miles Davis, as well as Ravel and Neil Young, but they don't sound anything like any of those particular artists. They do draw on their roots to create a fitting tribute to what has come before them. "First Case Scenario" is a little bit of everything, conveyed in dramatic guitars, sweeping melodies and fierce vocals, sometimes pretty, always practiced. And everything Native Fiction does with their music is exactly what they want to do. That kind of mastery is impressive."
Author: Allison Augustyn, Pioneer Press