The Sean Price Is Right

When some loud braggart tries to put me down
And says his school is great
I tell him right away
Now what's the matter buddy
Ain't you heard of my school
It's number one in the state

A compilation of Fortuna POP!’s greatest misses, Be True To Your School is a mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous, of bedroom pop glory (from both the guitars and samplers divisions), DIY sonic wreckage, classic songwriting and cackhanded tomfoolery.

The only person who could possibly like all 25 songs on this album is Fortuna POP! owner, Sean “Never Knowingly Profitable” Price. That’s how it should be with all good indie labels. Still small enough after 12 years (yes, I know Fortuna POP! had its 10th anniversary last year, but as the album’s sleeve notes confirm, The Truth is never allowed to inconvenience whatever version of history FP! is writing) to bear the mark of one man’s taste (or, if you prefer, vision), FP! is a heroic tale of one man’s dogged pursuit of bankruptcy in the name of musical mentalism.

A few acts on this compilation are not, to my mind, represented by their best song. But that’s not the point. The point is for the label owner to show off what he thinks are his label’s greatest moments, or at least provide a capsule of what the label stands for and has achieved. Job done. Here’s to Sean’s bank manager indulging him for another decade.

My thanks to John “Never Knowingly Oversold” Jervis of WIAIWYA for this post’s headline.