The Fotomaker Collection

With two members stemming from the Rascals, Fotomaker sang tightly polished pop
ock songs, complete with catchy choruses and ample guitar work, but never really came to fruition outside of New York. All three of their albums, Fotomaker, Vis-A-Vis, and Transfer Station contribute to the 16 tracks on this all-you-need collection. As substance is sparse in their music, they aren't without some attractive hooks, and some of their love songs do merit creativity. Wally Bryson, who used to be in the Raspberries, adds a splash of talent that is welcomed on many of the tracks. "Miles Away," their highest charting single at number 63, contains one of the sharpest hooks on the album and is easily the best tune present. Sometimes sounding like Steely Dan without the jazzy smoothness, Bryson's voice is pleasing to the ear, especially on some of the lighter tunes like "All There in Her Eyes" and "Lose at Love." At surface level, Fotomaker's music brandishes some palatable melodies that are typical of late-'70s radio, and this collection sums up their short-lived career perfectly.